Short answer
Bhango (भाङ्गो) is the Nepali word for hemp seed. THC is the intoxicating cannabinoid; CBD is non-intoxicating. 'Industrial hemp' is a legal category defined by THC below 0.3%, not a separate plant species. Allo is Himalayan nettle, an unrelated bast-fibre plant often blended with hemp.
Key points
- Bhango (भाङ्गो) is the Nepali word for hemp seed, not the plant itself.
- THC and CBD are both cannabinoids, but only THC is intoxicating.
- 'Industrial hemp' is a legal category (THC below 0.3%), not a separate species.
- Fibre-processing terms like decortication and cottonising describe turning raw stalk into usable fibre.
Plant & botanical terms
Cannabis sativa — the plant species that includes both industrial hemp and higher-THC drug-type cannabis; the difference between them is chemistry, not botany.
Hemp — the common name for cannabis grown and regulated for its low THC content (below 0.3% under most industrial frameworks, including Nepal's), used for fibre, seed, and CBD.
Cultivar — a cultivated variety of the plant bred for specific traits: fibre yield, seed yield, or cannabinoid content.
Bast fibre — the strong outer fibre found in the stems of hemp and related plants (allo, jute, banana); the source of textile-grade hemp fibre.
Cannabinoids & compounds
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the cannabinoid responsible for cannabis's intoxicating effect, and the compound Nepal's 0.3% industrial threshold measures.
CBD (cannabidiol) — a non-intoxicating cannabinoid used in wellness and cosmetic formulations, extracted mainly from flower and leaf.
Cannabinoid — any of the chemical compounds unique to the cannabis plant, of which THC and CBD are the best known.
Nepali & regional terms
Bhango (भाङ्गो) — the Nepali word for hemp seed, traditionally roasted and ground into achar in Himalayan hill kitchens. It refers to the seed, not the plant or any intoxicating compound.
Allo — the Nepali name for Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia), an unrelated bast-fibre plant long hand-processed in Nepal's hills, often blended with hemp fibre in textiles.
Ganja (गाँजा) — the Nepali legal and common term for cannabis, used in the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act and in everyday speech alike.
Processing & compliance terms
Decortication — mechanically separating bast fibre from the woody core (hurd) of the stalk, the first processing step after harvest.
Cottonising — a further mechanical process that softens bast fibre to a texture closer to cotton, suited to fine spinning.
Certificate of analysis (COA) — a lab report verifying a product's cannabinoid content and purity; mandatory before licensed cannabis products can move under Nepal's framework.
Seed-to-sale tracking — record-keeping that traces a product from cultivation through processing to final sale, used to demonstrate regulatory compliance.
Common questions
- What does bhango mean?
- Bhango (भाङ्गो) is the Nepali word for hemp seed — the food product Himalayan kitchens have used for generations. It refers specifically to the seed, not the whole plant or any intoxicating compound.
- What's the difference between THC and CBD?
- Both are cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. THC is intoxicating and is the compound THC-limit laws, including Nepal's 0.3% industrial threshold, regulate. CBD is non-intoxicating and used in wellness and cosmetic products.