NEWS
JUSTIN LONG HAS THE MUNCHIES
p. 120
NEWS
EU RULES ON FOREIGN MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT p. 122
The U.S. government is taking a more serious look into hempcrete due to its long list of benefits including its lower environmental impact when compared to other conventional construction materials.
Hempcrete is typically made by combining powdered hemp biomass, lime, and water, resulting in a lightweight building material that is green in color. It creates a strong composite material comparable to concrete, but it weighs just about an eighth the weight of regular concrete. It also doesn’t shrink or warp when exposed to hot and cold temperatures.
Some of hemp’s benefits are beginning to be noticed by officials at the federal level, and a lot of funds are being applied toward the development of hempcrete and other eco-friendly materials.
In December 2021, President Joe Biden announced a plan to reach net-zero emissions from all federal operations in the U.S. by 2050. Specifically, part of that goal led to an effort to lead the way in increasing the total amount of artificial “carbon sinks,” which absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than the carbon released during the construction process—aka net carbon-negative structures. Some of the nation’s top experts believe this will make an impact on climate change.
Man-made carbon sinks are designed to mimic natural carbon sinks, such as oceans or rainforests, that clean the air naturally and absorb or convert carbon dioxide.
In June 2022, the U.S.
