Bellingham hemp advocate hopes to change the way we build

Pam Bosch of Bellingham is trying to build a future for industrial hemp in the United States.

The 62-year-old artist acknowledges that hemp, which generally refers to the inside stalk and seeds of the cannabis plant, gets a bad rap because of its association with marijuana. But she says hemp doesn’t affect the mind, and says it’s safer and more sustainable for construction than other materials more commonly used.

Bosch became interested in hemp when exploring renovation options for her South Hill home.