By Andi Anderson
Southern Illinois University (SIU) is preparing to host the seventh annual Southern Illinois Hemp and Cannabis Symposium, an event that has expanded from a regional gathering into a nationally recognized platform for education and industry discussions.
The symposium attracts researchers, policymakers, students, farmers, and business professionals interested in the latest developments in hemp and cannabis.
The one-day event will feature nine expert speakers covering a wide range of topics. Discussions will focus on state and federal policies, hemp and cannabis production practices, plant genetics, agronomy, and emerging biomedical research. These sessions are designed to provide valuable insights into the rapidly evolving hemp and cannabis sectors.
Among the featured speakers is Ismail Dweikat, professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Other notable presenters include Jonna Eckenrod, senior drug and health policy analyst, Shelby Ellison, associate professor in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences at the University of Wisconsin Madison, and Reggie Gaudino, director of Cannabis Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Additional speakers include David Lakeman, cannabis division manager at the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Thomas Lavigne, attorney at the law firm of the Cannabis Counsel, Ken Meyer, co-founder of Complete Hemp Processing, LLC, Mitchell Westmoreland, director of Science for Due Diligence Horticulture, and Bristi Poudel, assistant professor at Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine.
Along with expert presentations, the symposium will include a student poster session, giving students an opportunity to showcase their research and interact with professionals in the field. Numerous exhibitors will also be present throughout the day, highlighting products, services, and innovations related to hemp and cannabis.
The symposium is scheduled to take place on Friday, Sept. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gower Translational Research Center in Carbondale. A networking reception for registered attendees and exhibitors will follow from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the same venue.
Registration is currently open, with fees set at $120 for general attendees and $20 for students. Participants will receive a continental breakfast, lunch, and a light meal during the evening reception.
The activities will continue the following day with the Hemp, Hops and Shrooms festival in downtown Carbondale. Visitors can enjoy the community event before attending the City of Carbondale Off the Rails concert later in the evening.
By bringing together experts, researchers, students, and industry leaders, the symposium aims to promote knowledge sharing, encourage collaboration, and support the growth of hemp and cannabis-related agriculture and research across the United States.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jessicahyde
Categories: Illinois, Sustainable Agriculture