Some governments regulate the concentration of THC and permit only hemp that is bred with an especially low THC content into commercial production. The legality of hemp varies widely among countries. Hemp typically has lower concentrations of total THC and may have higher concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD), which potentially mitigates the psychoactive effects of THC. Īlthough chemotype I cannabis and hemp (types II, III, IV, V) are both Cannabis sativa and contain the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they represent distinct cultivar groups, typically with unique phytochemical compositions and uses.

It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.

It was also one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 50,000 years ago. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants on Earth.

It can be used to make a wide range of products. Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial use. A hemp field in Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany, France, which is Europe's largest hemp producer as of 2022 Drone video of a hemp themed maze in a hemp (kanep in Estonian) field in Kanepi parish, Estonia (August 2022)