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Hocking College To Become Cannabis Testing Lab
By: Susan Tebben
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NELSONVILLE — Hocking College will become a state testing lab for medical marijuana, after being announced as one of two colleges in the state to be approved for a provisional license.
The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program announced on its website that Hocking College and Central State University were approved for provisional licenses, pending final reviews of the testing labs. The two institutions were the only public universities in the state to apply, but the state says there is no limit to the number of testing lab licenses that can be awarded. Seven privately-held laboratories have applied for licenses, but no announcement has been made.
Last September, Hocking College President Betty Young announced the school’s plan to apply and create new majors around the cannabis testing lab. Dr. Jonathan Cachat was chosen to lead the development of curriculum.
“This is the time for producers and growers to establish a relationship with Hocking College to provide quality laboratory services while demonstrating a commitment to public education and workforce development,” Cachat stated in a press release sent by the college on Tuesday.
The lab testing will take place on Sylvania Avenue in Nelsonville, the former site of Starr Manufacturing, according to Tim Brunicardi, spokesperson for Hocking College.
The college was approved for new associate degrees for laboratory technicians in Medical Laboratory and Chemical Laboratory Science, but are awaiting approval for a “first of its kind” Cannabis Lab Technician degree, the release stated.
The Ohio Department of Higher Education confirmed that and Associate of Applied Science in Laboratory Sciences with majors in Medical Laboratory and Chemical Laboratory was approved by the chancellor’s office. The approval also says the additional major of Cannabis Laboratory is “undergoing further review.” No timeline has been set for the approval of the degree, according to a spokesperson for the department.
“We have been moving full steam ahead,” Dr. Cachat is quoted as saying in the release. “The building is purchased, construction is underway, and meetings with cultivators are in process – we will be fully operational when samples from cultivators are anticipated to be ready for testing.”
During the initial announcement, Young said the college was planning to create an endowment to provide the funds for the laboratory equipment, renovation and initial operations.
“We anticipate bringing $5 million in investment and 12 new jobs to this region with the start of the operation of this lab,” Young said in September.