What Does CBD Look Like? A Comprehensive Guide

CBD flower is the flower of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. It is called CBD flower because of the high concentration of cannabidiol (CBD) it contains. Sativa has two main varieties, hemp and marijuana. Hemp plants contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while marijuana plants can contain more than 30%.

Both hemp and marijuana contain CBD in varying amounts. Both CBD and THC are cannabinoids, active compounds found in C. sativa that interact with an essential brain and body system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). THC is a psychoactive compound associated with the intoxicating effects of marijuana, while CBD is not as psychoactive as THC, so it doesn't cause the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD flower and marijuana are very similar in appearance because they are two variations of the same plant, C.

sativa. They also smell the same because both contain compounds called terpenes, which are responsible for the distinctive scent of cannabis. Yes, CBD-rich hemp flower and THC-rich marijuana (herb) look exactly the same. This is because they are the same plant, Cannabis sativa, but with different dominant cannabinoids. Yes, the CBD flower smells like a THC flower.

CBD comes from hemp and THC comes from marijuana plants. Both hemp and marijuana are forms of the Cannabis Sativa plant. They look, smell and taste almost identical to each other, and the key difference is in their effects. Both smokable hemp flower and marijuana flower are members of the cannabis sativa species. It is a leafy green shrub responsible for the wonderful world of marijuana that we all know and love.

Any cannabis plant with more than 0.3% THC is considered a marijuana plant according to the federal government. Meanwhile, the CBD flower is considered to come from plants with less than 0.3% THC, making its by-products legal at the federal level. Do you want to dive deeper into the nerd stuff? Read more in our Guide to Smokable Hemp here. As a result, CBD remains unjustly imprisoned in a legal gray area, while nearly half of the states in the union strongly oppose the federal government's express stance on the issue of THC. This means that there are different levels of risk associated with buying CBD flowers or marijuana depending on where you live. The terms “CBD flower” and “hemp flower” are often used interchangeably, although the word flower is misleading because CBD buds look less like what is found in a bouquet and more like pieces of green leafy popcorn. Even if CBD products contain traces of THC (0.3% or less), you won't feel any intoxicating effects.

The CBD hemp flower looks so similar to its cousin, THC, that police have seized “marijuana” only to discover that it was perfectly legal hemp. After smoking it, you'll quickly know if the sticky substance you just inhaled was rich in CBD or THC. Meanwhile, Dad Grass has plenty to choose from when it comes to legal hemp products such as CBD tincture and CBN tincture which offer a perfect balance of cannabinoids that you can buy online and enjoy in any state. As mentioned, many people consume CBD for anxiety as it is one of the best-known effects of smokable hemp but smokable CBD has also been shown to alleviate symptoms of pain, stress and inflammation when used consistently. You may have noticed that there are a lot of similarities between CBD-rich hemp and the intoxicating drug that is sometimes referred to as an “herb”. By following four simple steps you can determine if your bud contains CBD or THC in one way or another:

  • Check for visible differences between hemp and marijuana
  • Check for smell differences between hemp and marijuana
  • Check for taste differences between hemp and marijuana
  • Check for cannabinoid content
Nowadays it is possible to grow cannabis with high concentrations of THC, CBD or CBG, and more and more members of the cannabinoid family are on their way.

Tori Clar
Tori Clar

Subtly charming internet scholar. General music aficionado. Avid beer buff. Evil music expert. Lifelong food advocate. Award-winning beer practitioner.