What is the difference between marijuana and hashish?

Dear Bowler, 

“Oh say can you see” the difference between marijuana and hashish? Well, both are forms of cannabis—a drug that contains a psychoactive component, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and non-mind-altering component, cannabidiol (CBD). Whether your marijuana comes from America or your hashish hails from Europe, their differences are probably not due to their geographical roots and may instead be influenced by their production methods. If you want to know about the real differences between marijuana and hashish, read on! 

The difference between marijuana and hashish (which is often shortened to hash) goes far beyond country of origin. The difference between marijuana and hashish has more to do with the way it’s produced. Marijuana is a collection of dried plant material, like stems, leaves, seeds, and flowers. This collection can be smoked, vaped, turned into oils that can be used in drinks and foods, and made into tinctures. Hashish, on the other hand, is produced by compressing the tiny, sticky, hairs-like structures, known as trichomes, on the outside of the cannabis plant into resin. Once dried, it can be smoked, turned into oil, eaten on its own or cooked into food. 

Since both marijuana and hashish come from the same plant, they contain the same active ingredients, though in very different amounts. The resin that hashish’s made from is a much more potent form of marijuana, which means it has a higher THC content. While marijuana typically contains around 20 percent THC (some strains may contain slightly higher levels), hashish tends to contain much higher levels of THC at around 40 to 80 percent. Hashish often has stronger side effects than marijuana because of these higher THC levels. Even though marijuana may be less potent, ingestion can still produce side effects. These may include disruptions to memory, loss of coordination, and a distorted sense of reality, though there isn’t enough current research to determine whether higher potency cannabis products are more dangerous for mental health.  

There’s a worldwide trend of ever-increasing potency of marijuana products. In fact, in recent years both American style marijuana and European style hashish have become stronger. So, no matter where you live or buy these products from, you might experience heightened sensations.  

While it might not matter whether you get your marijuana from America or hashish from Europe, it might be a good idea to be mindful of what kind of seller you’re getting your products from. If you’re ever unsure about the purity of your product or if you aren’t buying from certified sellers, you might consider testing your drugs. If you want to check whether your drugs contain fentanyl, for example, there are test strips available. They’re relatively inexpensive and can be bought online, though you might be able to find them for free at your local or community-based health departments. 

Hope this helps,