What is it and what causes light hemp? Is it legal to smoke a joint with this type of marijuana? What is the difference with therapeutic use?
Cannabis in general has been known for decades (it has been cultivated and consumed for thousands of years). Light cannabis, however, has only been known for a short period. Since, in particular, the law allowing the sale of low-THC hemp products with a psychotropic effect has been adopted. This is a law that should not be confused: it actually allows the marketing of a specific type of cannabis, and not any product that does not comply with the terms established by legislation. Public opinion is divided between those in favor and those opposed to the trade of this herb. Light cannabis: what are the effects?
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To spark controversy over whether to withdraw legal cannabis from commerce and, consequently, to close stores that market it, there is an abbreviation: THC. It stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient that makes cannabis psychotropic depending on the amount contained in the product. According to the law, if you do not exceed 0.6%, you can sell it; otherwise, it becomes illegal and is seized.
And this is probably one of the reasons for its success: the fact that, for most consumers, it is a product that “does not get you high.” The question is, with this concentration of THC in light cannabis, what are the effects on those who smoke it, drink it in herbal teas, or make it into a cake? And are we sure that the current law explicitly states whether light hemp can be purchased to make a joint? Let’s see.
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Light cannabis: what is it?
Light hemp, or light cannabis, is a product obtained from Sativa hemp, one of the cannabis varieties. Those who cultivate these plants choose the female inflorescences, that is, the branches that bear flowers, with minimal concentrations of one active ingredient (THC or tetrahydrocannabinol) and with maximum concentrations of another active ingredient (CBD, that is, cannabidiol).
THC is the main active ingredient in light cannabis and it is what causes the psychotropic effect. When the hemp product contains a high percentage of THC, it is when the consumer experiences the characteristic symptoms of moderate euphoria and a “feeling of peace.” Just for comparison, the classic joint contains cannabis with 5 to 8% THC.
The CBD in light hemp, on the other hand, cannot exceed 4%.
Light cannabis: what does the law say?
Light cannabis looks apparently similar to marijuana. It is only when analyzed that it is possible to know whether a legal or illegal plant is in hand.
The law only allows the sale of light hemp products if the THC concentration is between 0.2% and 0.6%. Beyond this threshold, the trade becomes illegal and the cultivation is seized and destroyed.
In Italy, nearly 800 stores sell light cannabis, with a turnover of over 40 million euros. The managers provide customers with cakes, energy drinks, herbal tea filters, but also light hemp clothing and bags of light marijuana. Is this legal?
This is thanks to the interpretation that has been given to the law itself. There is no cultivation of light cannabis to allow consumers to make the classic “joints.” However, it allows for the encouragement of “the use and final consumption of semi-finished hemp products from local supply chains, as well as the production of food, cosmetics, biodegradable raw materials, and innovative semi-finished products for industries in different sectors.” Closing the quotes. I mean, everything and nothing.
What the law does not openly allow, however, is the use of light cannabis for joints. In other words, making a joint remains illegal.
Light cannabis: what effects does it cause?
So we said that light cannabis is not considered a plant with psychotropic or hallucinogenic effects, as long as it remains and does not exceed the quantities of active ingredients. Experts in the field say that the effects of light hemp are limited to providing a relaxation sensation but not a high, as the consumption of the joint, as has been reiterated several times, remains illegal.
The reduced THC rate and, on the other hand, a high CBD content produce muscle relaxing, anti-epileptic, and antioxidant effects. Therefore, there are those who consume light cannabis to overcome migraines or menstrual pains, some to avoid joint pain. However, there are possible side effects on pregnant women and people suffering from cardiorespiratory diseases.
Light cannabis and medical cannabis
Be careful not to make a mess. Light cannabis has nothing to do with that used for therapeutic purposes. The latter was legalized in Italy in 2006. For several years, it has been produced in the military pharmaceutical chemical plant in Florence, under the control of the Ministries of Health and Defense.
Therapeutic cannabis arrives at pharmacies for the preparation of products containing much higher levels of THC and CBD than those based on light cannabis (from 5 to 20% THC and between 7.5 and 12% CBD). The preparations are administered with a non-reproducible medical prescription for chronic pain related to pathologies such as tumors, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, etc., nothing to do with what is sold in the stores recently finished in the crosshairs of the Ministry of the Interior.
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