The House That Pot Built: Using Hemp For Construction

As marijuana slowly gains mainstream approval across the US, some entrepreneurs are looking to the plant for other uses. Hemp is a non-psychoactive variety of cannabis which can be used to make things like wax, paper, clothing and in this case, buildings.

Jim Savage, a New York-based former Wall Street analyst has started his own business making hempcrete, a building material he says could revolutionize construction.

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A New Kind Of Material

Hempcrete is made by mixing hemp chips with water and lime and can be used as a substitute for concrete. Not only is the substance only about an eighth of the weight of traditional concrete, but hempcrete is extremely fireproof, provides insulation and cuts down on mold and pests. Savage says that although hempcrete can't be used to fix load bearing features, the substance could be useful in areas where flooding is a problem due to its resistance to mold.

Green Building

One of the other reasons some homeowners may be open to using hempcrete over traditional building materials is its sustainability. Unlike many other methods, hempcrete doesn't rely on petrochemicals and comes from more environmentally friendly sources than other building materials. While concrete must be mined and fiberglass must be manufactured, hempcrete can be grown. The material would come from a renewable source and might even provide new economic opportunities to American farmers.