{
  "@type": "Article",
  "type": "knowledge",
  "title": "What is hemp?",
  "url": "https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/vad-ar-hampa/",
  "language": "en",
  "summary": "Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa L. with THC below 0.3 % — grown for fibre, seeds and cannabinoids, not for intoxication.",
  "answer": "Hemp is a variety of the plant *Cannabis sativa L.* grown for its fibres, seeds and flower heads, with a THC content below 0.3 %.",
  "author": {
    "name": "Daniel Johansson",
    "url": "https://helsama.se/forfattare/daniel",
    "jobTitle": "Grundare, Helsama OÜ"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "name": "Helsama OÜ",
    "url": "https://helsama.se"
  },
  "published_date": "2026-06-01T16:36:29.800264+00:00",
  "modified_date": "2026-07-13T19:49:06.362008+00:00",
  "category": "grunderna",
  "image": "https://rajqtzgkxymypdinmmgj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/knowledge-images/vad-ar-hampa.jpg",
  "video": null,
  "markdown_url": "https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/vad-ar-hampa.md",
  "faq": [],
  "related": [
    {
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      "url": "https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/blompulver-vs-cbd-olja/"
    },
    {
      "title": "Fullspektrum, bredspektrum eller isolat?",
      "url": "https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/fullspektrum-bredspektrum-isolat/"
    },
    {
      "title": "CBDA & CBD, Skillnad i struktur och kemi",
      "url": "https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/cbda-och-cbd/"
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  ],
  "content_markdown": "**Hemp is a variety of the plant Cannabis sativa L. grown for its fibres, seeds and flower heads, with a THC content below 0.3 %.** It is precisely the low THC content that distinguishes industrial hemp from cannabis classified as a narcotic — hemp causes no intoxication. It is used for textiles, food, building materials and cannabinoids.\n\n## What is hemp?\n\nHemp (industrial hemp) is *Cannabis sativa L.* grown in varieties with a very low THC content. It is one of humanity's oldest cultivated plants (see [the history of hemp](/kunskap/hampans-historia)) and one of the most versatile: the stalk provides fibre, the seed provides nutrition, and the flower heads contain cannabinoids such as CBDA.\n\n## Is hemp the same thing as cannabis or marijuana?\n\nBotanically they belong to the same species, but they are different varieties with different purposes and chemistry. Industrial hemp has THC below 0.3 % and is grown for fibre, seed and cannabinoids. What is colloquially called marijuana refers to varieties with a high THC content, grown for their intoxicating effect. The difference is THC.\n\n## Is hemp dangerous, or a narcotic?\n\nIndustrial hemp below 0.3 % THC causes no intoxication and is legal as a raw material in the EU. It is the THC content that determines the legal status — more in [Is CBD legal in Sweden?](/kunskap/ar-cbd-lagligt-sverige-regelverket-2026).\n\n## What is hemp used for?\n\nFibre (textiles, rope, building materials), seeds (food, see [the nutritional profile of hemp](/kunskap/hampans-naringsprofil)) and flower heads (cannabinoids, see [what is raw hemp](/kunskap/vad-ar-rahampa)). Few crops are put to use in so many ways.\n\n## Does hemp contain THC?\n\nYes, but in very low concentrations — below 0.3 % in approved industrial hemp, too low to cause intoxication. The dominant cannabinoids are non-psychoactive (see [cannabinoids explained](/kunskap/vad-ar-cannabinoider)).\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n**What is hemp?** A variety of *Cannabis sativa L.* with THC below 0.3 %, grown for fibre, seeds and cannabinoids.\n\n**Is hemp the same as marijuana?** The same species, but different varieties; hemp is low in THC and causes no intoxication.\n\n**Is hemp a narcotic?** No, industrial hemp below 0.3 % THC is legal as a raw material in the EU.\n\n*Sources:* [EU Regulation 2021/2115 on industrial hemp (0.3 % THC)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj); [Cannabis sativa (Wikidata Q145873)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q145873).\n\n**Read on:** For the full picture, see the overview [Is CBD legal in Sweden? Yes — here is what the rules say in 2026](/kunskap/ar-cbd-lagligt-sverige-regelverket-2026). Related questions: [What is raw hemp?](/kunskap/vad-ar-rahampa) and [Cannabinoids explained: CBD, CBDA, CBG, CBN and THC](/kunskap/vad-ar-cannabinoider).\n\n**About Helsama’s Premium CBD Hampa:** Unheated raw hemp is the only way to buy legal full-spectrum CBD — extracted full-spectrum oils are classed as narcotics and isolate isn’t full-spectrum. Helsama’s Premium CBD Hampa is exactly that: unheated, milled raw hemp grown on Gotland, and we’re the only ones selling the CBD hemp varieties grown in Scandinavia. The Nordic summer’s long light — up to 18 hours of daylight — makes the hemp special: our third-party analyses show 8.83% CBDA versus 6.64% for the same seed grown in Italy. [Read more about our hemp](/en/premium-cbd)."
}