iHemp Hour: A Blueprint for a Green Revolution in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a region built on the legacy of mining and forestry, is poised for a new, sustainable industrial revolution, and hemp is at its very core. In a visionary episode of the iHemp Hour, host Dave Crabill sat down with Joe Thiel, CEO of Innovate Marquette Smart Zone, to discuss a groundbreaking plan to transform the U.P. into a hub for hemp-based innovation.
The episode also covers the latest on the Delta-8 controversy with Mike Brennan and key updates from iHemp Michigan’s own Blaine Becktold.
The Main Event: Remediate, Rebuild, and Revolutionize with Hemp
Joe Thiel’s work at Innovate Marquette and Invent@NMU is focused on a central, powerful idea: using industrial hemp to solve the U.P.’s historical environmental challenges while building a thriving, circular economy for its future.
Here are the key pillars of this ambitious vision:
- Large-Scale Bioremediation: The U.P. has massive brownfields and former mine sites. Thiel’s plan is to use hemp’s incredible ability to absorb heavy metals and toxins to remediate this land on a grand scale. This not only heals the environment but also creates the raw material for the next step.
- Creating a Circular Economy: The hemp grown during remediation isn’t waste. The byproducts, such as biochar, can be used for water filtration—a critical need given the U.P.’s proximity to 10% of the world’s fresh water. It’s a self-sustaining cycle of healing and creation.
- A Hub for Sustainable Products: The vision extends to a full suite of commercial products. With a steady supply of hemp fiber, the U.P. can become a leader in:
- Construction: Producing hempcrete, hemp wood, insulation, and laminates to meet the booming demand for sustainable building materials.
- Outdoor Recreation: Manufacturing lightweight, durable products like frisbees, kayaks, and camper components from hemp-based thermoplastics.
- Advanced Materials: Research at Northern Michigan University is exploring infusing hemp fibers with graphene to create materials stronger than carbon fiber.
- The Big Picture: A New Industrial Revolution: Thiel argues that to truly succeed, the region must think big—mimicking the scale of the former forestry and mining industries. This means building million-square-foot facilities capable of processing raw hemp into dozens of different products, creating thousands of high-paying, sustainable jobs.
Michigan Hemp & Cannabis News Roundup
The episode also provided crucial updates for the Michigan hemp community:
- Delta-8 Legislation: Mike Brennan reported that a house committee unanimously voted to send a bill to the house floor that would regulate and test Delta-8 products under the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA).
- Free Legal Webinar: Cannabis attorney Scott Roberts is hosting a free, live webinar for the public to answer legal questions related to both hemp and cannabis.
- Upcoming Events:
- iHemp Michigan Networking: A hybrid (in-person and virtual) networking event is scheduled for this Saturday in Lansing.
- Midwest iHemp Expo: Mark your calendars! The next in-person expo is officially scheduled for January 21st and 22nd in Lansing.
- Growing Climate Solutions Act: The U.S. Hemp Roundtable has endorsed a bipartisan Senate bill to help farmers participate in carbon credit markets—a huge opportunity for hemp growers.
This Week’s Recipe:
Don’t miss the recipe for a delicious and easy Blueberry Hemp Seed Salad with a creamy tahini dressing!
This episode is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the true, industrial-scale potential of hemp to heal our planet and build a prosperous, green economy.