Architects, builders and hemp homeowner hopefuls gathered in Austin July 11 at a landmark event celebrating the city’s formal adoption of hemp-lime construction (commonly known as “hempcrete”) into its residential building codes.

A new book of architectural details for hemp-lime construction will be published in May, written by a pioneering US hempcrete builder who helped co-author the hemp-lime appendix published for the first time in the 2024 International Residential Codes.

The city of Austin, TX on April 10  officially adopted hempline (hempcrete) in the city’s Building Technical Codes as an innovative building material to be used in local construction. 

Multiple US hemp-building companies will make a big splash for around 25,000 visitors at one of the largest US construction sustainability expos and conferences later this month in Philadelphia, thanks to collaboration and the generosity of a hemp processing company and a hemp-building non-profit.

New laws regarding the legalization of hemp in Japan, and new coalitions with Thailand, are opening up possibilities for the hemp industry for medicinal and industrial uses in both Asian countries.

New 2024 US residential building codes for hemplime (“hempcrete”) will be explained by experts at a special low-cost in-person event for architects, builders and developers in San Marcos, TX in October.

The US chief of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said she was already familiar with hemp building materials when she encountered them on the National Mall at an exhibit of housing innovations in June.

The US Hemp Building Association will host an annual virtual members only event on May 13 with trail blazers in the hemp building industry.

A new hemp building organization launched its website this week with a familiar face in a central leadership role.

The trade association for hemp building in the United States announced a new slate of directors after members voted in an election that ended December 9.