Hemp is a substance that we have all heard of, but many people are not actually sure what it is, how it differs from similar plants, and what its effects are. So, today, let’s talk about hemp and its derivatives. We will start by making sure you know what hemp is, then look at some common derivatives of this plant. By the end of this quick help guide, you will know what hemp flower is, as well as hash and kief. Moreover, we will look at delta-8 products and how to differentiate them from delta-9. Let’s jump right in!
What is Hemp?
The first practical tip to help you better understand the various hemp derivatives is to make sure you know what hemp is.
Hemp is the non-psychoactive cousin of cannabis. It is a plant that produces various CBD and THCa products that you can enjoy legally in different forms. The effects of hemp are relaxing and soothing. Hemp flowers, leaves, seeds, seed oil, and protein are all used in various beauty products, foods, medicines, and more.
Now, let’s look at some derivatives of hemp.
Hemp Flower
Also known as CBD flower or CBD bud, hemp flower is the bud of the plant. It is one of the most commonly used parts of the plant and can be turned into hemp oils, CBD oils, and smokable flowers. Potent hemp products will derive their properties from high-CBD hemp buds and provide all of the awesome benefits of smoking THC products, minus the psychoactive element. Hemp flower products can help you to unwind after a long day and alleviate discomfort or anxiety.
Hemp flower is federally legal in the US, provided it contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.
Kief
Sometimes referred to as pollen or crystals, kief is a powder made from the resin glands of the hemp plant. Many people consider kief to be one of the cleanest ways to consume CBD from the hemp plant, as it involves very little to no processing.
One of the most common ways to consume hemp kief is to add it to your hot coffee. Another approach is to put it in a vaporizer and vape it. Kief can also be added to butter or other food products or make “moon rocks”. These are CBD nugs (dried flower) coated in oil and rolled in kief powder.
Kief extraction is also one of the first steps when making a hash. You can make your own hash at home with kief or just purchase it ready-made from a trusted supplier.
Hash
Hash is a kief that has been heated and pressurized to make a softball. Hash is a concentrated form of hemp and it can be consumed in various ways. You can consume hash orally or dissolve it into a hot beverage. It is more common to smoke hash as part of a joint or in a pipe or bong. As hemp hash is a concentrate, its effects will be stronger than smoking hemp flower.
If you do want to make hash at home with your hemp kief, you can do so pretty easily. First, you should place the hemp kief in a pile of parchment paper and fold it tightly. Then, you need to heat the kief and apply pressure. You might decide to use an iron for this task or else a jar full of hot water. Keep the heat and pressure on the kief for several minutes. Then, cool the hash for an hour in the fridge. Or, you can save yourself the effort and buy hash!
Delta-8 THC Products
Finally, delta-8 products can be derived from hemp. These products include gummies, pre-rolled joints, and vapes. However you prefer to consume your delta-8, there is a product out there just for you. Make sure to read the package carefully so you can check that the product is in fact delta-8 rather than delta-9 THC.
And there you have it! This has been a brief look at some of the derivatives of hemp and practical tips for understanding them. Whether you are just curious or keen to try out some new products, hopefully, now you have a much clearer understanding of what hemp is and what can be made from this plant. The hemp derivatives we have discussed include hemp flower, hash and kief. We have also seen that delta-8 THC products like gummies, pre-rolled joints and vapes can be derived from hemp. Now, you are well-equipped with the necessary information about hemp and its derivatives to make an informed choice when shopping for products. Have fun!
