Differences Between Hashish and Marijuana

Hashish and marijuana both come from the Cannabis sativa plant (as does hemp).

Hashish and Marijuana Defined:

Harborside Health Center – Headband bubble hash. THC:51.55%

Hashish: Etymology: Also known as hash, it is believed that hashish originated in the Middle East and Western Asia, where the cannabis plant was widely available. Some will say that the word hashish has a linked etymology with assassins, but scholars say this is untrue. Hashish entered usage in the 1590s, derived from Arabic hashīsh, which literally means dry vegetation (e.g., hay). Part of Cannabis plant: Hashish is made from cannabinoid-rich, mushroom-shaped glands known as trichomes, taken from mature female plants as they contain the most trichomes. Producing hashish requires the separation of the resin reservoirs of the trichomes from the flowering tops. The small resin grains fall, are separated as they go through the sieve and the remaining powder is known as kief. Kief is then compressed into the resiny blocks we all know as hashish. There are multiple methods to handle the collection of kief and manufacturing of hashish. You can harvest your own kief: If you use a 3 or 4 piece grinder, you can collect kief to sprinkle on your marijuana or to make hashish.

Harborside Health Center – Blue Dream marijuana strain. THC:17.48%

Marijuana: Etymology: Marijuana is an variation of the Mexican Spanish word marihuana, which entered into English usage in the late 19th century. Many suggest that this term was heavily pushed by US prohibitionists in the 1930s to make it sound foreign and demonic in their quest to ban the cannabis plant. Marijuana really refers to cultivating the cannabis plant for drug production, whether for recreational or medicinal use. Part of Cannabis plant: Marijuana uses the dried flower tops (unless you’re at rock bottom to smoke stems and seeds) of mature female plants. Marijuana still has trichomes like hashish, but marijuana also includes the plant matter, whereas hashish doesn’t.

Hashish and Marijuana Key Differences:

• Potency: Both marijuana and hashish contain the cannabinoids THC, CBD and CBN, however hashish contains much higher concentrations of the psychoactive THC which produces the ‘head’ high. Marijuana can approach 25% THC, whereas hashish can top 70% THC and hash oil at 90%.
• Popularity: According to the 2012 U.N. World Drug Report: In the Americas, Oceania, South-East Asia, Southern Africa and West Africa, cannabis is consumed mainly in the form of cannabis herb (marijuana). In contrast, in the Near and Middle East, North Africa and Western and Central Europe, cannabis is also used — primarily or in addition to the herbal product — in the form of cannabis resin (hashish). Significant amounts of hashish are produced in two countries (Morocco and Afghanistan), while demand is concentrated mainly in Western Europe and the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia.