House of Hemp

However, beedies have nothing to do with hemp but are tobacco wrapped in tendu or temburni leaf. Hemp, on the other hand, is a variation of the cannabis plant but with an insignificant amount, 0.3 percent or less, of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) which gives marijuana its intoxicating effects. In fact, one web article on hemp stated, “You’d need to smoke a hemp joint the size of a telephone pole to get high.” When entrepreneur Lorenzo Mendez Stewart, 31, thinks of hemp, however, he thinks of hempcrete, and other useful products made from the plant.

Stewart was considering building his own house so he did some research and realised hempcrete, a material made of hemp which is use for construction and insulation, was the best way for him.

He said his research led him to realise that the cost of building materials was very high, making it very difficult for young people wanting to build their own homes to do so.

Hempcrete, he said, was cheaper, environmentally sustainable, and if made correctly, stronger than concrete.

In addition to hempcrete, a long list of products can be derived from the plant. Its seeds and flowers are used in health foods, organic body care, foodstuff such as bread, cereal, protein powder, as well as lubricants, paints, ink, and cosmetics.

The fibres and stalks are used in clothing, construction materials, paper products, biofuel, and plastic composites, including ethanol, animal bedding, mulch, rope, carpet, fibreboard, concrete, cardboard and filters.

He said Canada, Chile and countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Europe grow hemp commercially. Unfortunately, it is illegal to import the whole plant or grow it in Trinidad and Tobago, as it is a member of the cannabis family. However, by-products and components of the plant could be imported. “Because of it’s close resemblance to marijuana, it’s a bit of a situation to grow it, but we are trying to present the plant and make the people of Trinidad and Tobago aware of it’s nature and ability.” HEMP USES According to Stewart, one acre of land could produce one tonne of hemp, which could produce two three-bedroom houses. He said because the material is cheap to produce and hempcrete could last for centuries, it is perfect for the construction of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) houses.

The hemp plant is composed of the bark, bast fibre, hurd, and a hollow core.

Hempcrete is made by mixing the hurd, which Stewart imported, with a lime-based binder, and water. The hempcrete, which resembles damp straw, is then poured or cast into a frame, tamped, and left to dry.

The material is mostly used to make walls, but is also used to form floor slabs, ceilings, and roof insulation, although it is not suitable for foundations.

Research on hempcrete revealed that the material is breathable so it absorbs and emits moisture, making it able to regulate internal humidity, as well as avoid trapped moisture and mould growth. It also provides good acoustic insulation, is fireproof and earthquake resistant, and provides thermal insulation so that it regulates internal temperatures.

Stewart said hemp is a billion-dollar industry and many jobs can come out of it, from growing to processing to final products.

“A nation’s power is based on the resources a land and its ability to produce, not it’s consumption power...

We want to break the stigmatisation of this plant. It is not marijuana.

This is what could carry Trinidad and Tobago to a next level of production and change its financial dynamic.” He said he believed youths would be interested in the plant as it was part of the Caribbean culture.

He said people have known about or have heard of marijuana and hemp for decades. Yet, he said there was very little opportunity to research hemp in the country.

“There is so much negative news, very little hopeful items in the media. I am presenting this an alternative way to do simple yet positive things. I want to inspire people to see that positive things can be done.” “We want to get the young people back in a position to work and be productive in a field that interests them.

They can grow it and create things out of this. It is an industrious plant. It would be beneficial to society as well as to the environment.” “One of the main reasons I was drawn to hemp was because it is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

The plant absorbs carbon dioxide, it is a sustainable resource, it’s actually good for the soil, and it’s six times stronger that concrete. In fact, as it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere it turns into stone over a period of time.” He said growing hemp would benefit the country, helping it meet the terms of The Montreal Protocol, which, among other things, requires the country to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Hemp usually takes 12 to 14 weeks to grow.

It is pest and weed resistant, requires very little fertiliser and less water than the average crop. It also enriches and detoxifies soil, and prevents soil erosion.

Stewart recently registered his company, Hempcrete Ltd, with the intention of importing and selling hemp products including oils, hempcrete, clothing. He plans to take more short courses to educate himself on the plant and its uses, especially in the construction industry.

He also wants to hold a workshop and bring in hemp experts and builders to educate people, and intends to start an NGO to bring awareness to hemp, experiment with the plant, and connect various education, government, and civil engineering agencies to move the study and use of hemp forward in this country. He also hopes to one day help create an eco-community, with 100 to 200 homes made of hempcrete and accessorised with other environmentally friendly products.