ECSU to host first area cannabis conference

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Oct. 13—As the number of cannabis programs at colleges continues to grow, Eastern Connecticut State University is hosting the first New England Cannabis Research and Education Conference from Oct. 21-22.

The conference is the first academic conference in Connecticut focused on cannabis studies. The theme of the conference, which is open to the public, is "Growing Plants: Helping People." Eastern developed a minor, "Cannabis Cultivation and Chemistry," the first program of its kind in Connecticut.

The University of Connecticut has a few courses about cannabis horticulture in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.

The initial course started in Spring 2019.

On Oct. 21, UConn Plant Science Professor Gerald Berkowitz will deliver the plenary address at 7 p.m. in the Student Center at Eastern.

His presentation is called " Molecular Analysis of Cannabinoid Biosynthetic Genes: How Hormones, Environmental Signals and Transcription Factors can increase the THC (or CBD) Content of Cannabis."

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Director Jason White will give a keynote address at noon in the Science Building auditorium, room 104, on Oct. 22 His presentation is called, " The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station: 147 years of Consumer Product Safety Testing Applied to Hemp and Adult Use Cannabis."

There will also be several panel discussions on Oct. 22, with presenters including academic, law, medical and business experts.

Panel topics include: cannabis business and employment possibilities; cannabis as medicine; sustainable cannabis cultivation; cannabis chemistry and testing; cannabis legalization; plant management; and starting college cannabis programs.

There will be two undergraduate research panels during the conference.

The conference will also include a poster session for students and professional academics in room 301 of the Science Building.

During the session, there will be posters about cannabis research.

Attendees can also tour the cannabis greenhouse.

Information about cannabis- related businesses in the area will be available in the Exhibitor Hall in the Science Building lobby.

Businesses are still being sought to be exhibitionists or sponsors.

People can register or sign up to become a business sponsor until the day of the conference. The conference is free to all college students.

College students have already registered from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and New York.

Registration is $50 for academics and the general public and $200 for businesses in the Exhibitor Hall. Registration is available through NECREC at easternct. showare. com/ NECREC.

Students should register at bit.ly/3TdI1Fq.

Registration and sponsorship are open until the day of the event.

For information about exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, e-mail necrec@easternct.edu.

The conference is sponsored by Mr Nice Guy Cannabis Cultivation and Garden Supply Store, The Botanist, ECSU Foundation, Inc., SweetHeal, the Willlimantic Food Co-Op and Leading Edge Construction.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter — @mwarrentc.