CARBONDALE, Ill. (Heartland News) - Southern Illinois University will host the 7th annual Southern Illinois Hemp and Cannabis Symposium.
The symposium is set for Friday, September 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gower Translational Research Center, 1785 University Press Drive.
A reception for all registered attendees and exhibitors will follow at 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Organizers say nine speakers will cover several topics throughout the day including state and federal policy, hemp/cannabis agronomy and genetics and new biomedical research.
The speakers include:
ADVERTISEMENT
- Ismail Dweikat - Professor of agronomy and horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- 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
- Reggie Gaudino - Director of Cannabis Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago
- 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
- Bristi Poudel - Assistant professor at Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine
Registration is $120 for attendees and $20 for students. It includes a continental breakfast and lunch during the event, as well as a light meal at the reception.
You can click here for more information and to sign up.
Copyright 2026 Heartland News. All rights reserved.