2024-12-22T03:29:10-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/149941622/finnish-university-receives-grant-to-explore-industrial-applications-for-hemp Nicholas Korody 2016-04-20T17:32:00-04:00 >2022-07-19T17:29:29-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/pk/pkyhmuuq4s481p30.JPG?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Turku University of Applied Sciences has received a grant of 70,417 euros to see if hemp could be used more in construction projects. The research will involve investigating the soundproofing and fireproof properties of the substance. Researchers will also look at how hemp decomposes and to see how it could be used as fertilizer - in order to determine how eco-friendly hemp's waste materials are.</p></em><br /><br /><p>The article is careful to note that hemp has far less THC than marijuana and is therefore not a psychoactive substance (<em>obviously</em>) &ndash; but the news still feels <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">topical</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hemp has been used for centuries for ropes, oils and textiles. But marijuana criminalization efforts in the 20th centuries seriously hurt hemp's brand (among other things). Now that marijuana is beginning to become destigmatized, there's been a renewed interest in hemp and its many potential uses.</p> <p>"Hemp-based concrete is already marketed with names like Hempcrete and Canosmose, and is made up of a mixture of hemp fibres, lime and other materials," the authors note. "The mixture is not as strong as conventional concrete however and is used in conjunction with extra framing support."</p> <p>Here's some other 4/20-related articles from the archives:</p> <ul><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/91553/from-kfc-to-thc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">From KFC to THC</a></li><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/16347/pot-clinics-grow-like-weed-in-sf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pot Clinics Grow Like Weed in SF</a></li><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/42789484/house-of-hemp-pushing-cannabis-as-a-construction-material" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House of hemp? Pushing cannabis as a construction material</a></li><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/58690/when-in-rome-breathe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">When in Rome, breathe.</a></li></ul>