What is the difference between cannabis, weed, hemp and hash?
Cannabis, or hemp, is the name of the plant. Weed, marijuana and hash (hashish) refer to various products that are made from the plant. These terms are often used interchangeably. The Opium Act uses the terms ‘hemp’ and ‘cannabis’.
Weed/marijuana
Weed, or marijuana, is made from the dried buds and leaves of the cannabis plant.
Hash/hashish
Hashish (often shortened to ‘hash’) is made from the resin of the buds of the cannabis plant, which is then compressed into a sticky brown substance.
Weed and hash in legislation
In the Opium Act the government uses the name of the plant: hemp/cannabis. The terms ‘weed’ and ‘marijuana’ do not appear in the Opium Act.