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Hocking College Medical Marijuana Facility Ready After Go-Ahead From State
By: Susan Tebben
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NELSONVILLE (WOUB) – Hocking College’s medical marijuana testing lab is now up and running with receipt of a certificate operation, according to officials.
Dr. Jonathan Cachat, head of the new cannabis technology program at the college, told WOUB Tuesday the certificate had arrived, and was in effect until January 2020.
Hocking College becomes the second facility in the state that will test medical marijuana for the state-regulated medical marijuana program. The first to receive its certificate of operation was North Coast Testing Laboratories in Streetsboro.
The college was approved for a provisional license in July by the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program.
The new medical marijuana testing facility is at the previous home of Starr Machine on Sylvania Avenue.
The college opened the facility for a public tour on December 20, while awaiting the certificate of operation. Cachat said he was happy to see the facility come to fruition after many delays from the state.
“We had a short list of things we had to take care of in order to get that certificate of operation,” Cachat said during the event. “All of those things have been taken care of now.”
Hocking College President Betty Young said the new testing facility and the new cannabis technology program represent a progressive step for the college into a emerging industry.
“At the end of the day, if there’s a job out there and people need training for it, we’re going to look at those programs and try to put them into place,” Young said at the grand opening event. “This is a good example.”
Cachat said test samples will be picked up starting Wednesday, and initial results should be out by next week.