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Hemp is Cannabis sativa L. grown for its seed and stalk, and US law defines it by a THC limit of 0.3% of dry weight. The seed is a food: 30 g of hulled hemp seeds has 9.5 g of protein. The stalk gives fiber and a woody core used in hempcrete.
What hemp is
Hemp is Cannabis sativa L. with very little THC. US law sets the line: a plant with a THC concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis is hemp (7 U.S.C. 1639o). Above that line the same species is marijuana.
One plant gives three different products.
| Part | What it gives | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | Whole seed, hulled seed (“hemp hearts”), oil, protein powder | Hemp seeds benefits |
| Stalk | Bast fiber and a woody core called hurd | Hemp fiber |
| Flower | Cannabinoid extracts, where most of the legal questions sit | Hemp vs marijuana |
The seed is a food
Hemp seeds are sold whole or hulled. Hulled seeds are called hemp hearts. USDA FoodData Central has a record for the hulled seed, and these are its numbers.
| Per 30 g (3 tbsp) of hemp hearts | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 166 kcal | |
| Protein | 9.5 g | 19% |
| Total fat | 14.6 g | 19% |
| Fiber | 1.2 g | 4% |
| Magnesium | 210 mg | 50% |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 13% |
Source: USDA FoodData Central, FDC 170148. % Daily Value is calculated from FDA’s Daily Values.
Fiber is low because the hull is removed. Chia and flax have far more fiber and less protein. The seed nutrition comparison puts six seeds side by side.
FDA reviewed three hemp seed ingredients in December 2018: hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil. It had no questions about the conclusion that they are safe for the uses described. FDA also said the seeds do not naturally contain THC or CBD.
Start with these pages:
- Hemp hearts nutrition: the full tables per 100 g, 30 g and 10 g.
- Hemp hearts vs hemp seeds: what the hull changes.
- Hemp seeds protein: grams, amino acids and protein quality.
- Hemp seed oil benefits: the fatty acids and how to use the oil.
- Hemp seed recipes: nine simple ways to use hemp hearts.
The stalk is a material
The stalk has two parts. The outer layer is bast fiber, long and strong. The inside is a woody core called hurd or shiv. A 2021 review by Sunny and Pickering puts bast fiber at about 25-30% of the stem’s dry weight and the core at about 65-70%.
Fiber goes into textiles, insulation and composites. Hurd goes into animal bedding and hempcrete, a mix of hurd and a lime binder used as wall infill.
USDA’s National Hemp Report, released April 16, 2026, counted 21,693 harvested acres of fiber hemp in the United States in 2025. That crop came to 67.3 million pounds, worth $13.5 million.
Read more: hemp fiber, hempcrete companies in the US, and for the UK, hemp fibre and hempcrete.
The law is changing in 2026
The 0.3% line has counted only delta-9 THC since the 2018 Farm Bill. Public Law 119-37, signed on November 12, 2025, rewrites the definition. As of October 2026, this is the position:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 12, 2025 | Public Law 119-37 is signed. Section 781 redefines hemp by total THC, including THCA, and takes most intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products out of the definition. |
| September 2, 2026 | Public Law 119-103 delays most of the change. |
| November 12, 2026 | The part covering cannabinoids the plant cannot produce naturally applies. |
| December 11, 2026 | The rest of the new definition applies. |
Grain, hulled seed, seed oil, fiber and hurd remain “industrial hemp” under the new text. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Read more: the hemp ban explained, hemp vs marijuana, hemp oil vs CBD oil and industrial hemp.
About this site
HempBotanics.com is an independent information site. It sells nothing. It is not affiliated with the former Hemp Botanics shop in London, which has closed: see what happened to Hemp Botanics.
Frequently asked questions
What is hemp?
Hemp is the plant *Cannabis sativa* L. with a THC concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis, as defined in US law at 7 U.S.C. 1639o. It is grown for seed (grain), stalk fiber and flower.
Is hemp the same plant as marijuana?
Yes, both are Cannabis sativa L. US law separates them by THC content: at or under 0.3% of dry weight is hemp, above it is marijuana.
Do hemp seeds contain THC or CBD?
FDA said in December 2018 that hemp seeds do not naturally contain THC or CBD, and that the hemp seed ingredients it reviewed contain only trace amounts picked up from contact with other parts of the plant.
How much protein is in hemp seeds?
USDA FoodData Central lists 31.6 g of protein per 100 g of hulled hemp seeds, or about 9.5 g in a 30 g serving (3 tablespoons). See hemp seeds protein.
What is hemp used for?
The seed is eaten whole, hulled, or pressed into oil. The stalk gives bast fiber for textiles, insulation and composites, and a woody core (hurd) used for animal bedding and hempcrete. USDA also tracks hemp grown for flower.
Is the legal definition of hemp changing?
Yes. Public Law 119-37, signed on November 12, 2025, changes the US definition to count total THC, including THCA. A later law, Public Law 119-103, moved most of the change to December 11, 2026. Grain, fiber and seed products stay within the definition.
Is this the Hemp Botanics shop?
No. This is an independent information site that sells nothing. The former shop has closed: see what happened to Hemp Botanics.
Sources
- 7 U.S.C. 1639o: Definitions (Cornell Legal Information Institute, with amendment notes)
- Public Law 119-37, Division B, section 781 (signed November 12, 2025), GovInfo
- Public Law 119-103, section 2019 (approved September 2, 2026), GovInfo
- USDA FoodData Central: Seeds, hemp seed, hulled (FDC 170148), SR Legacy
- FDA: FDA Responds to Three GRAS Notices for Hemp Seed-Derived Ingredients for Use in Human Food (Dec 20, 2018)
- FDA: Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels
- USDA NASS: National Hemp Report (released April 16, 2026; 2025 crop year)
- Sunny and Pickering (2021): An Overview of Alkali Treatments of Hemp Fibres (IntechOpen)