If hemp can get past a few remaining legislative hurdles in Illinois, Briskin believes it could have a future as a cash crop for farmers, useful in the manufacture of construction materials, fabric, paper and even composite plastic. 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.
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. In Europe, manufacturers are already making wallboard from hemp fiber. There's work that shows it makes a great shingle, too.