FORT MYERS, Fla. — Marijuana, CBD,THC, hemp - not everyone knows the differences. The Lee County Bar Association hosted a luncheon today in Fort Myers to help educate people on this growing industry.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of hemp, a product extracted from the cannabis plant.
Experts from different sectors of the industry got together to discuss how the economic, agricultural, and health impacts of hemp.
One of the major topics explained is the difference between hemp and marijuana which both stem from the cannabis plant but produce vastly different substances.
“Marijuana has THC which gets you high, hemp does not,” said Co-founder of Seed and Bean Market, Cole Peacock.
“We have to remove that stigma, we have to disassociate it from the illegality and the psychotropic effects of marijuana, ” said Lee County Bar Association President, Matthew B. Roepstorff.
Many believe it the CBD compound inside of hemp is packed with health benefits.
“If you have joint pain or if you have migraines of anxiety those are all things it may help with, " said Cole Peacock.
Others encourage the use of hemp for clothing and other materials.
"If we made clothes out of hemp and cotton that's biodegradable we would just be more environmentally friendly," said the State Director of Cannabis, Holly Bell.
"It’s just a product that has so many uses and could help a farmer diversify their crop rotation," said Cole Peacock.
Research continues to ensure we are understanding the full benefits of hemp and CBD products.
