California Hempcrete house planned

By Pat Jeffries
Source: oregonlive.com

View full size AJ Skiles/Wikimedia CommonsThe Knapp's Castle ruins are the site of a proposed hemp house. If built, it will be California's first house made from Cannabis.


Hempcrete: Hemp Technologies is seeking to build California's first house made from the Cannabis plant. The 500-square-foot house is to be built at the Knapp's Castle ruins near Santa Barbara -- if it receives the required permits. 

The primary material for the house is Hempcrete, made of chips from the woody stem of the plant mixed with a lime-based binder. Advocates say hemp resists termites and fire damage. 

One problem: Though hemp contains little THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), producing hemp is illegal in the United States. Importing it, however, is legal, making it possible for companies to forge ahead with hemp building products. 

Read more about the Hempcrete project at the LA Times blog.