[420 Girl]

Sitting here, watching the devastation from today's earthquake in Chile, I am once again reminded how the World could construct buildings, roads and bridges to withstand these natural disasters with less damage in the aftermath.

Currently, the United States stands in the way of progress due to it's arcane prohibition of Industrial Hemp.

Hemp Concrete is said to be 7 times stronger than concrete, half the weight of concrete and is more elastic than concrete.

A sixth century hemp-reinforced bridge in France is testimony to the stone-like strength and durability of this material, which has come to be known as “hempcrete”.

"Hemp building boosters claim that hempcrete foundation walls are up to seven times stronger than those made of concrete, half as light and three times as elastic. This superior strength and flexibility means that hemp foundations are resistant to stress-induced cracking and breaking, even in earthquake-prone areas. The building material also is self-insulating; resistant to rotting, rodents and insects; and fire proof, waterproof and weather resistant."

"Hemp (from Old English hænep) is the name of the soft, durable fiber that's cultivated from plants of the Cannabis genus, cultivated only for industrial (non-drug) use.

In modern times, industrial hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, and fuel, with modest commercial success. In the past three years, commercial success of hemp food products has grown considerably.

Hemp is one of the fastest growing biomasses known, producing up to 25 tonnes of dry matter per hectare per year, and one of the earliest domesticated plants known.

For a crop, hemp is relatively environmentally friendly as it requires few pesticides and no herbicides.

Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa var. sativa is the variety grown for industrial use in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere, while C. sativa subsp. indica generally has poor fiber quality and is primarily used for production of recreational and medicinal drugs. The major difference between the two types of plants is the appearance and the amount of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) secreted in a resinous mixture by epidermal hairs called glandular trichomes, although they can also be distinguished by genetic means. Strains of Cannabis approved for industrial hemp production produce only minute amounts of this psychoactive drug, not enough for any physical or psychological effects. Typically, hemp contains below 0.3% THC, while Cannabis grown for marijuana can contain anywhere from 6 or 7 % to 20% or even more."

" Industrial hemp is produced in many countries around the world. Major producers include Canada, France, and China. While more hemp is exported to the United States than to any other country, the United States Government doesn't consistently distinguish between marijuana and the non-psychoactive Cannabis used for industrial and commercial purposes. "

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...n-efforts.html