Article By: Pippa Ehrlich
South Africa’s building industry has taken another step forward. High up on a hill overlooking the sea in Noordhoek, Western Cape, stands the House that Hemp Built.
The first of its kind in South Africa, the building was constructed almost entirely of materials that could be grown on a few hectares of land within months.
The house belongs to Tony Budden, co-owner of hemp company Hemporium, who has been exploring and showcasing the product in South Africa since founding his company in 1996. He’s been working on his remarkable home since 2005 and his idea has finally become concrete – or rather, hempcrete.
The house was conceived as a prototype for future projects in South Africa. Housing is one of the government’s most pressing challenges, and building with hemp (Cannabis sativa) could make housing projects more affordable and more sustainable.
In four months one hectare of hemp can produce enough material for a strong and well insulated home that’s suitable for the government’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).
And after harvesting the first crop, materials for another house could be grown on the same land.
Ideal eco-building material
Hemp is increasingly being recognised as an ideal eco-building material, especially in Europe and Britain, where authorities are using hemp in pilot homes in their housing and eco-estates.
Read complete article here:
http://property.iafrica.com/ideas_advice/715343.html
Month: March 2011
Montana Medical Marijuana Rally Planned For Saturday
The march, dubbed, “Out of the Shadows, Into the Streets,” is being put together by Montanans for Responsible Legislation, Garden Mother Herbs, and Zoo Mountain Natural Care. It will start an Noon in Caras Park on Saturday with speeches by backers of legalized medical marijuana in Montana.
Supporters will then march through the city to the courthouse lawn, where they will continue the rally.
As we reported yesterday, the raids in Montana have amounted to nothing so far but a blatant example of robbery of – according to updated reports – over $4 million from bank accounts associated with the raided dispensaries.
If you live in Montana, try to get to Missoula on Saturday and show your support for medical marijuana. And be sure to share this story with your friends so they can be alerted to the rally as well. You must show the federal government that you won’t stand for these budget-padding operations disguised as battles in The War on Drugs.
http://the420times.com/2011/03/montana-medical-marijuana-rally-planned-for-saturday/
The Style Assembly Rocks Organic Chic at LA Fashion Week 2011
By Vicki Godal
A good example of a naturally organic fabric is industrial hemp. Hemp was the original eco material. Levi Strauss first used it for his denim jeans. Thomas Jefferson predicted it would be America’s most versatile crop. According to E Magazine, industrial hemp produces three times as much fabric per acre as traditional cotton, requires no pesticides and nourishes the soil it grows in.
According to Lavuk designer Natasha Gindin, hemp is quite a nice textile. “I use hemp in many of my classic, edgy or elegant designs,” Gindin said, “Not only because it looks so luxurious but because it’s durable and has such a high quality feel to the fabric.”
Once you see the ingenuity, intelligence and style these designers put into doing their ethical lines, it becomes a simple decision to go organic. Style Assembly attendee Laura Klein, Organic Auhority website publisher put it this way.
“The innovativeness of these designers! Using organic and hemp fabrics with natural dyes, like pomegranate, is truly unique. And all of these lines are made in the USA. That is cool,” Klein said. “When you try on one of their pieces, you can’t help but notice the attention to detail and love that’s put into these garments. I get tired of seeing expensive lines ‘made in China.’ It really makes me question the quality. These eco lines definitely made me rethink my next shopping trip.”
Read complete article here:
A good example of a naturally organic fabric is industrial hemp. Hemp was the original eco material. Levi Strauss first used it for his denim jeans. Thomas Jefferson predicted it would be America’s most versatile crop. According to E Magazine, industrial hemp produces three times as much fabric per acre as traditional cotton, requires no pesticides and nourishes the soil it grows in.
According to Lavuk designer Natasha Gindin, hemp is quite a nice textile. “I use hemp in many of my classic, edgy or elegant designs,” Gindin said, “Not only because it looks so luxurious but because it’s durable and has such a high quality feel to the fabric.”
Once you see the ingenuity, intelligence and style these designers put into doing their ethical lines, it becomes a simple decision to go organic. Style Assembly attendee Laura Klein, Organic Auhority website publisher put it this way.
“The innovativeness of these designers! Using organic and hemp fabrics with natural dyes, like pomegranate, is truly unique. And all of these lines are made in the USA. That is cool,” Klein said. “When you try on one of their pieces, you can’t help but notice the attention to detail and love that’s put into these garments. I get tired of seeing expensive lines ‘made in China.’ It really makes me question the quality. These eco lines definitely made me rethink my next shopping trip.”
Read complete article here:
Hemp house going up at Lake Junaluska
Written by Colby Dunn
If someone said the word “hemp,” the first thing to spring to mind probably wouldn’t be home construction. But if you’re looking for a strong, green, energy-efficient building material that’s resistant to pretty much everything, hemp might be your best choice.
This is the concept being pitched by Greg Flavall and David Madera, owners of an Asheville-based business called Hemp Technologies. They’re some of the first to build with the material in the United States, where industrial hemp hasn’t seen the rise in popularity it enjoys in other countries, thanks to a federal ban on U.S. production.
Its recognition is slowly ramping up, though, due in part to its benefits over standard concrete. The third house in the country to be built with the technology is going up now, in the mountains above Lake Junaluska.
Roger Teuscher, the homeowner, said he was turned on to the idea by his first architect, who suggested the plant as a cleaner, greener alternative to standard homebuilding supplies. Tuescher, who lives most of the year in Florida, said he was drawn not only to the cost savings gained by increased insulation, but by the product’s recyclability.
“The whole house can be recycled,” said Teuscher. “The house itself you can take down, grind it up and put it back into another house.”
And that’s a far cry from standard concrete homes. But Flavall, whose company is providing the hemp for Teuscher’s home, said that with hemp-built homes, it’s unlikely that he’d ever need to do that. While standard American homes have a shelf life of about 80 years, hemp-made homes will last much longer. The oldest known hemp structure, said Flavall, is a Japanese building that’s been standing for just more than three centuries.
For most customers, though, the real selling points are the product’s environmental friendliness and energy efficiency.
Because the hemp is mixed with lime to create the hempcrete that makes up walls, floors and ceilings, it is actually carbon negative – meaning it takes carbon from the air and locks it up into the fabric of the building. In the simplest terms, lime needs carbon to continue existing and hemp is a breathable substance, so hemp buildings will suck significant amounts of carbon from the air during the building process and will continue to breathe for the life of the structure.
Flavall said that this, combined with high levels of resistance to things like fire, mold, termites and other insects and the plant’s extreme capacity for insulation, make it the ideal building material.
Read complete article here:
http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/3454-hemp-house-going-up-at-lake-junaluska
This is the concept being pitched by Greg Flavall and David Madera, owners of an Asheville-based business called Hemp Technologies. They’re some of the first to build with the material in the United States, where industrial hemp hasn’t seen the rise in popularity it enjoys in other countries, thanks to a federal ban on U.S. production.
Its recognition is slowly ramping up, though, due in part to its benefits over standard concrete. The third house in the country to be built with the technology is going up now, in the mountains above Lake Junaluska.
Roger Teuscher, the homeowner, said he was turned on to the idea by his first architect, who suggested the plant as a cleaner, greener alternative to standard homebuilding supplies. Tuescher, who lives most of the year in Florida, said he was drawn not only to the cost savings gained by increased insulation, but by the product’s recyclability.
“The whole house can be recycled,” said Teuscher. “The house itself you can take down, grind it up and put it back into another house.”
And that’s a far cry from standard concrete homes. But Flavall, whose company is providing the hemp for Teuscher’s home, said that with hemp-built homes, it’s unlikely that he’d ever need to do that. While standard American homes have a shelf life of about 80 years, hemp-made homes will last much longer. The oldest known hemp structure, said Flavall, is a Japanese building that’s been standing for just more than three centuries.
For most customers, though, the real selling points are the product’s environmental friendliness and energy efficiency.
Because the hemp is mixed with lime to create the hempcrete that makes up walls, floors and ceilings, it is actually carbon negative – meaning it takes carbon from the air and locks it up into the fabric of the building. In the simplest terms, lime needs carbon to continue existing and hemp is a breathable substance, so hemp buildings will suck significant amounts of carbon from the air during the building process and will continue to breathe for the life of the structure.
Flavall said that this, combined with high levels of resistance to things like fire, mold, termites and other insects and the plant’s extreme capacity for insulation, make it the ideal building material.
Read complete article here:
http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/3454-hemp-house-going-up-at-lake-junaluska
Feds Threaten State Dispensaries Nationwide
For immediate release, March 17, 2011
Feds Threaten State Dispensaries Nationwide
Read the Department of Justice’s “Haag Memo” here:
http://www.cannabistherapyinstitute.com/legal/feds/doj.haag.memo.pdf
For more information, contact the:
Cannabis Therapy Institute
877-420-4205
In a little-publicized memo, the federal government has indicated that the
gloves are off with regards to medical marijuana dispensaries, “regardless
of state laws.” Previous memos had indicated a loosening of federal
prosecutions of medical marijuana, however the new memo states very clearly
that the feds consider all dispensaries illegal under federal law and that
their prosecution is a “core priority” of the feds.
The “Haag Memo” was written on Feb. 1, 2011 from United States Attorney
Melinda Haag (Northern District of California) to John A. Russo, Esq.,
Oakland City Attorney, in response to an Oakland City Council request for
guidance regarding medical marijuana and federal law. The memo was written
with consultation and approval from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
The “Haag Memo” clarifies the “Ogden Memo”, which was written by former
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden on Oct. 19, 2009 for the Department
of Justice. The “Ogden Memo” seemed to indicate that the new Obama
administration would restrict federal prosecution of medical marijuana
providers in states that had medical marijuana laws. This was heralded by
many as giving them the green light to pursue medical marijuana activities,
as long as they were in compliance with state law.
The “Haag Memo” clears up that misconception with some very unambiguous
statements. The memo says clearly that the feds will not look the other way
on medical marijuana. The “Haag Memo” states very clearly that the feds
will continue to investigate, arrest and prosecute medical marijuana
dispensaries in every state “regardless of state laws.”
In addition, the memo calls prosecuting medical marijuana dispensaries a
“core priority” for the feds.
According to the memo, medical marijuana commercial activity is still
considered by the Department of Justice to be “a violation of federal law
regardless of state laws permitting such activities.”
The memo may be the cause of the recent increase in federal raids at
medical marijuana dispensaries. Only 4 days after the memo was issued, the
DEA raided 4 dispensaries in California Just this week, the DEA raided
more dispensaries in California and Montana. They arrested dozens of
people, and seized the assets and bank accounts of several dispensaries.
IMPLICATIONS FOR COLORADO
“Maybe this will wake people up who think that it can’t happen here,” says
Kathleen Chippi of the Colorado-based Patient and Caregiver Rights
Litigation Project (cannabislawsuits.com), who is trying to raise money to
file lawsuits to uphold Colorado’s Constitutional right to cannabis
medicine. Many legal observers agree that Colorado has the best chance of
fighting the feds in court because Colorado is the only state whose medical
marijuana law is actually in the state Constitution.
However, last year the state of Colorado set up a regulatory scheme that
required caregivers to surrender their Constitutional rights. The state
created a new entity called a Medical Marijuana Center (MMC). However, in
order to apply to become an MMC, the applicants had to surrender their
Constitutional rights to be caregivers, leaving them with no Constitutional
protection.
MMC applicants also had to sign their power of attorney over to the state
Department of Revenue for extensive investigations of every aspect of their
lives, including family, spouses, children, and bank accounts. Over 700
people applied to become MMCs last July 1, 2010. The investigations on
these applicants are in full swing, and no licenses to applicants have yet
been granted.
MORE QUOTES FROM THE HAAG MEMO
“We will enforce the CSA vigorously against individuals and organizations
that participate in unlawful manufacturing and distribution activity
involving marijuana, even if such activities are permitted under state
law.”
“Others who knowingly facilitate the actions of the licensees, includmg
property owners, landlords, and financiers should also know that their
conduct violates federal law.”
“As the Attorney General has repeatedly stated, the Department of Justice
remains fumly (sic) committed to enforcing the CSA in all states.”
READ THE DOJ MEMOS:
“Haag Memo” (Feb. 1, 2011)
http://www.cannabistherapyinstitute.com/legal/feds/doj.haag.memo.pdf
“Ogden Memo”: Oct. 19, 2009
http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/192
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http://www.cannabistherapyinstitute.com/donate.html
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Cannabis Therapy Institute
P.O. Box 19084, Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: 877-420-4205
Web: www.cannabistherapyinstitute.com
Email: info@cannabistherapyinstitute.com
Vegans Can Cook with Marijuana: Cannabis-Infused Oil
Now that you have the recipe for canna butter (if you don’t have it, there’s a link at the end of this post), there’s no end to what you can make with it. You don’t need to stop at brownies and caramel corn. You can venture into the savory.
(Just be sure that when you saute with canna butter, you cut it with regular unsalted butter; heat the canna butter past 350 degrees and you’ll cook out the THC.)
What, you’re vegan? No worries. You can also infuse your favorite oil with cannabis.
Read complete article here:
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2011/03/infusing_oil_with_cannabis.php
New Hampshire House approves decriminalizing marijuana
By Norma Love, Associated Press Writer
CONCORD, N.H.—New Hampshire’s House voted Wednesday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults, but the victory was followed immediately by the governor’s pledge to veto the bill.
Anyone under age 18 caught with one-quarter ounce or less would be subject to a $200 fine. The youth’s parents would be notified and he or she would have to complete a drug awareness program and community service within one year of the violation. Failing to comply would result in a $1,000 fine.
Wednesday’s vote comes seven months after Gov. John Lynch vetoed legalizing medical use of the drug. Lynch also opposes the new House bill, and immediately after the House vote said he would veto it.
Read complete article here:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2010/03/10/nh_house_considering_decriminalizing_marijuana/
Read complete article here:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2010/03/10/nh_house_considering_decriminalizing_marijuana/
High Chair: A Lounger Made of Hemp for Stylish Stoners
Someone pass the Visine!
Potheads: The time has come to throw out your beanbags, your Boca Lounger, your couch covered in a grimy tie-dye tapestry you bought on Telegraph 15 years ago. The stoner aesthetic has finally blazed its way into the prim little world of haute design. Introducing Wener Aisslinger’s Hemp Chair, a stacking chair made out of cannabis. Duuuuuuude.
Read complete article here:
House that Charles built: Step inside the Prince of Wales’s hemp-insulated eco-home where even the furniture is recycled
By Daily Mail Reporter
No need for a royal budget: The roof and floor of the Prince’s House are insulated with lime hemp and sheep’s wool. Designers say inhabitants could live in the home without central heating.
Read complete article here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365464/House-Charles-built-Take-tour-Prince-Waless-hemp-insulated-eco-home.html
Arizona State legislator: Reduce penalty for marijuana possession
By Brian Bernadel
(Photo by Aaron Lavinsky)
A Republican state legislator who openly admits to smoking cannabis in the past is backing a measure that would reduce the penalty for possessing less than two ounces of marijuana.
Rep. John Fillmore, R-Apache Junction, introduced House Bill 2228 in January.
Current Arizona law states that possession of any amount of marijuana is a felony and is punishable by one and a half years in prison and up to $150,000 in fines.
But Fillmore’s measure would make possession of less than two ounces a petty offense and would only be punishable by a fine of no more than $100.
Read complete article here:
http://www.statepress.com/2011/03/10/state-legislator-wants-to-reduce-penalty-for-marijuana-possession/