Advanced Cannabis Production course proves popular

With 17 students enrolled, Illinois Valley Community College’s first offering of Advanced Cannabis Production has been a success this spring.

IVCC is one of just nine community colleges to earn Illinois Department of Agriculture licensure to operate a cannabis program under the Community College Vocational Pilot Program.

Dr. Jennifer Timmers, cannabis instructor and co-coordinator of the agriculture program, said with IDOA industrial hemp growers and processors licenses, IVCC’s program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the Advanced Cannabis Production Lab.

Their work includes growing plants from seed, tissue culturing, and running an HPLC test to analyze cannabinoid levels in industrial hemp. Testing ensures students are working only with hemp plants, not marijuana.

For information, contact Timmers at (815) 224-0495 or jennifer_timmers@ivcc.edu.