Hemp and Cannabis: Same Plant, Different Rules
One number explains almost everything.
Leilala & Watson products are licensed New York cannabis, not hemp. But you will find many hemp products available, and it helps to understand the difference.
Hemp and cannabis are the same plant species: Cannabis sativa L. Legally, what separates them is THC content. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, plants containing 0.3 % delta-9 THC or less by dry weight were classified as hemp and removed from the federal controlled substances list. Plants with THC above that threshold are cannabis and are regulated through adult-use or medical cannabis programs like New York’s.
That distinction is based on the plant at harvest, not on the finished product. Once cannabinoids are extracted from hemp biomass, they can be refined into forms that contain higher THC levels. That is why some hemp-derived THC products have appeared alongside cannabis-derived ones in the marketplace. The law defined the crop, not how concentrated the compounds might be after processing.
Federal law in this area is evolving. Recent legislation narrowed the definition of hemp, with changes that began taking effect in 2026. The regulatory landscape for hemp-derived products may continue to shift as new guidance and enforcement policies are established.
In New York, Leilala & Watson products are produced under an adult-use cannabis license, tested for purity and potency, and sold through licensed dispensaries.
