Legislation allowing agricultural research on hemp passed the Illinois General Assembly recently and awaits Gov. George Ryan's signature. The measure still needs funding and potentially also clearances from drug control agencies. But Ryan's signature would be the first step toward two years of hemp research at the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University. Briskin hopes to be the lead researcher on the project. There are many unique qualities of hemp fiber that make it ideal for construction materials, said Briskin.
Hemp fiber can actually make a stronger and lighter composite plastic than fiberglass.
And when hemp fibers break, they don't shatter like fiberglass, making a safer product, say, for the interior of a car. Hemp fibers break bluntly, so it may be less likely to cause an injury. Hemp fiber also has been shown to improve home building materials, such as particleboard and shingles. Hemp could become a sustainable replacement for many forest-based lumber products, said Briskin. In Europe, manufacturers are already making wallboard from hemp fiber.