FILE PHOTO: In this Oct. 16, 2013 file photo, marijuana clone plants that are used to grow medical marijuana are displayed under a light at a medical marijuana cooperative in Seattle.
Ted S. Warren / AP Photo
Exploring the Hemp Industry and the Difference Between Hemp and Cannabis
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Asia Tabb
Ted S. Warren / AP Photo
FILE PHOTO: In this Oct. 16, 2013 file photo, marijuana clone plants that are used to grow medical marijuana are displayed under a light at a medical marijuana cooperative in Seattle.
AIRED; March 3, 2026
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
With renewed legislative conversations surrounding hemp and cannabis, we revisited the topic on the show with Ron Boyles, Founder and CEO of Lazy Moon Ranch and a longtime advocate for medical cannabis in Pennsylvania. Ron shared what it’s like working in the hemp industry and clarified the differences between hemp and cannabis—explaining that while both come from the same plant family, hemp is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill and contains low levels of THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, while cannabis cultivated for medical or recreational use contains higher THC levels. Ron’s journey into the industry is deeply personal: after a debilitating back injury led to years of opioid dependence, he turned to medical cannabis as a last resort and credits it with helping him reclaim his health and vitality. Today, in addition to operating Lazy Moon Ranch where he grows and harvests CBD hemp, Ron runs Green Bridge Society, which connects patients to certifying doctors in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. Our conversation covered the evolving legal landscape, the realities of farming hemp, and why education remains key as public interest in cannabis-derived products continues to grow.
