What’s the Deal with Hemp: Where’s the THC?

What’s the Deal with Hemp: Where’s the THC?

Navigating the hemp and cannabis markets is no small feat. The rules are vague, unevenly enforced, and often confusing even for industry insiders. You may have noticed we have two websites: one that sells products online and one that doesn’t. Or maybe you’ve seen that we don’t list detailed ingredients on our Instagram posts. None of this is because we want to be cagey. Here’s the real story about hemp, cannabis, and where THC fits in right now.

The 2018 Farm Bill: Opportunity and Loopholes

In 2018, the U.S. Farm Bill created a legal distinction between “marijuana” (a controlled substance, which we will call "cannabis") and “industrial hemp.” Hemp was defined as any cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. This distinction was groundbreaking because it allowed hemp to be cultivated, processed, and sold nationwide.

This was a huge step forward for unlocking the potential of this amazing plant. Hemp can be used for textiles, food, wellness products, and more. But the bill had some unexpected loopholes. By focusing only on THC levels and not creating a comprehensive regulatory framework, it opened the door for a massive market of intoxicating “hemp” products. Today, you can find gummies, vapes, and drinks containing psychoactive cannabinoids sold at gas stations, liquor stores, and countless online shops.

The result? Most consumers are understandably confused about what’s legal, what’s safe, and what the difference really is between hemp and cannabis.

Why Regulations Matter

Regulation isn’t always fun, it can create paperwork and bureaucracy. But when done right, regulations are life-saving safeguards. Just as we have rules about drinking water quality, food safety, and workplace protections, hemp and cannabis need clear standards to keep consumers safe.

Why? Because cannabinoids are not risk-free. THC and certain other compounds can cause intoxication. That means they affect judgment, coordination, and memory, making activities like driving unsafe. It’s important that consumers know the risks, understand dosing, and are old enough to make informed choices.

Here’s the gap:

  • State-licensed cannabis programs (in legal states like California) require rigorous testing for potency, pesticides, residual solvents, and labeling with proper warnings.
  • Hemp products under the Farm Bill don’t have the same federal oversight. Companies are expected to self-regulate—testing their own products, providing safety warnings, and ensuring accuracy.

That leaves space for bad actors to cut corners. For consumers, this means you should always look for transparent companies that publish third-party lab results and make safety a priority. We came into the hemp market from the regulated California cannabis market - so we know what it takes to make safe products, we've been doing it for years!

And here’s another layer of confusion: even though CBD hemp is federally legal, major platforms like Google, Meta (Instagram/Facebook), and TikTok prohibit or restrict advertising for hemp and CBD products. That’s why you’ll see our Instagram captions written in careful, vague language. While other legal industries can freely advertise online, hemp brands are forced to find creative, roundabout ways to communicate with their customers.

Broad-Spectrum Hemp: More Than Just CBD

On our Proof webstore, we use a broad-spectrum hemp extract derived from the resinous flowers of Cannabis sativa L. (hemp). This extract contains a rich profile of native cannabinoids—but with THC completely removed.

You may have heard of the “entourage effect,” the idea that cannabinoids work better together than in isolation. This is true, but THC isn’t required to achieve it. Cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, CBC, and CBDV all contribute to the synergistic benefits of hemp, helping maximize the effects of CBD while keeping products non-intoxicating.

Why We Don’t Include THC in Our Online Products

We’ve made a deliberate choice not to include THC in our online products, for several reasons:

  • Safety first: THC can cause intoxication, and we want to ensure our products don’t fall into unknowing hands.
  • Lack of oversight: There’s no reliable national system to guarantee age verification for shipped products.
  • Consumer preference: Many people simply don’t want to feel “high.”

We believe in providing clean, safe remedies without unexpected consequences. That said, for those who do want THC, we offer state-licensed cannabis products in California. These are available to adults 21+ at licensed dispensaries, where strict regulations ensure safety and quality.

Because ultimately, there’s nothing wrong with consenting adults enjoying THC! We just believe it should be done responsibly and transparently.

Bottom Line

The hemp and cannabis landscape is complicated, but we’re committed to navigating it with honesty and integrity. Hemp gives us an incredible toolkit of cannabinoids, and with broad-spectrum hemp we can deliver safe, effective, non-intoxicating products. THC has its place too, but ideally where regulation and oversight keep consumers protected.

And until advertising rules catch up with the law, we’ll keep finding creative ways to share the facts with you, without breaking the platforms’ rules.

That’s the deal with hemp.

Back to blog