People often pigeon-hole their own views on the medical marijuana movement. They see one aspect of it (because that is all they choose to see) and forget that the hemp industry is another massive aspect of this miraculous plant and what it can provide for the world. From fuels to rope to fabric and cooking oils, hemp may very well be one of the most industrious and versatile natural resources we have on this Earth. And though what hemp can produce so far has been pretty jaw-dropping, it is about to be taken to brand new heights, literally.

Introducing, hempcrete.

Hempcrete is bio-composite made up of the inner core of the hemp plant mixed with a lime based binder. In layman's terms? They use hemp hurds and lime to make hemp-based concrete. What sets it apart from most other building materials available now is the fact that it acts like a natural insulator as well as a moisture regulator. It is a self sufficient building material. But wait, there's more!

The other element of hempcrete that makes it so impressive is the simple fact that the hempcrete absorbs carbon dioxide gas as it grows, trapping the carbon and releasing it as pure oxygen. This alone is a huge step forward and marks what will be, essentially, the first “green” buildings in the sense that they will be both safe and environmentally sound and conscious.

Truth is, this stuff has existed a lot longer than people think. Hempcrete was discovered in a bridge abutment in France, dating back to the 6th century. Though this news may seem new and groundbreaking, the fact is we were re-introduced to hempcrete by mistake, without even being aware it existed for centuries. One thing people do need to be aware of about hempcrete is that it is not as strong as some other forms of concrete. For this reason, when building with hempcrete it is essential that the hempcrete walls be built together using another material that can handle vertical loads in building construction. To break it down, hempcrete's density is 15% that of traditional concrete, but when paired up with something else, the possibilities of hempcrete are a huge leap forward that could change not only the hemp industry, but how infrastructure is built and how long it lasts.

Today, in Europe, there are hempcrete structures that are ten stories high. They do not intend to go much higher than that due to load baring restrictions, but it shows how ahead of the curve some other countries already are regarding their knowledge of hempcrete.

Also, what stronger proof or testimony do we need other than knowing this stuff has remained in existence for 14 centuries without degrading? That alone should assure you just how much hempcrete will change the world.

Also, did I mention it was fireproof? Yes, it's fireproof.

So let's take a moment to marvel at the fact that the cannabis industry is not just fixing the souls and minds of some people out there. It is also providing us with material that may forever change the way we build (as well as what said buildings and structures can endure and how long they can last).

This is a revolution. You either jump on the train now or get left behind.

It really is that simple.