Fertile territory: legal marijuana production blooms on Vancouver Island

A safety move, a protecting white swimsuit and a tolerance for the scent of marijuana are all necessities earlier than stepping foot contained in the tightly managed United Greeneries production facility.


The licensed producer has been rising medical cannabis in a constructing simply exterior Duncan, B.C. for a couple of 12 months.


But with the legalization of recreational cannabis anticipated by the summer time of 2018, it is about to endure a $25 million growth.


"The retail market is potentially much larger than just the medical market alone," stated Graham Whitmarsh, the chief working officer for Harvest One — the corporate that just lately bought United Greeneries.


Whitmarsh, a former deputy well being minister for B.C., says the laws launched by the Trudeau authorities has offered sufficient certainty for shareholders to line up behind the growth.


"We expect there will be significant growth, particularly with respect to oils that are extracted from the raw product," he stated. 


"That has certainly been the experience in the U.S. and I think Canada will be similar."


Medical cannabis

The dried product is packaged and saved in Ziplock luggage. United Greeneries sells it to a different legal producer who then sells it to medical cannabis customers by means of the mail. (Megan Thomas/CBC)



Budding trade


Production supervisor Mikael Rykes is one among 15 workers at United Greeneries.


He used to are inclined to work in a industrial greenhouse, and took curiosity in medical cannabis by means of family and friends who used it medicinally.


"There's a lot more specialization required with cannabis with the specific strains and how you grow them."


United Greeneries isn't the primary marijuana firm to take an curiosity in Vancouver Island. Tillray — one of many largest licensed producers within the nation — is predicated in Nanaimo.


United Greeneries

Plants nearing maturity in one of many securing rising rooms at United Greeneries. (Megan Thomas/CBC)



Expansion plans


Construction will quickly begin on a brand new greenhouse and facility close to the corporate's present location. It will produce the varied marijuana merchandise which are anticipated to be in demand within the leisure market.


"Vancouver Island has a very sympathetic environment for growing these types of products. I think many of the communities are looking for economic development opportunities," Whitmarsh stated.


Daniela Vaschi

Daniela Vaschi, the CEO for United Greeneries, says a number of years in the past it was troublesome to rent for the trade, however curiosity is rising. (Megan Thomas/CBC)



When the growth is full, the workforce at United Greeneries is anticipated to swell to over 100 individuals, making it one of many largest employers within the metropolis. 


Mayor Phil Kent says the roles are welcome because the area tries to diversify its economic system.


"That's a significant employer and I understand that they are going to be paying a better than living wage for the Cowichan area," he stated.


Until now, hiring for the marijuana firm has include its share of challenges, says United Greeneries CEO Daniela Vaschi.


"We participated in a job fair here in Duncan. It was very interesting to see how different people reacted to what we were doing," she stated.


"It takes a little bit of time for people to adjust to idea that we are the legal side of it."


But Vaschi says public perceptions are altering and curiosity in positions is selecting up because the trade comes of age in an period of full legalization. 


United Greeneries

Several strains of marijuana are grown on the United Greeneries facility. (Megan Thomas/CBC)



As good a spot as any


There are nonetheless many questions on how leisure marijuana will probably be bought and consumed throughout Canada.


Under the proposed federal regulation, the provinces may have the latitude to set the principles for issues like retail distribution and the next age for consumption.


But among the many tidy rows of budding cannabis vegetation at United Greeneries, Rykes says one factor is a sure with legalization: producers might want to develop extra vegetation.


And he says B.C. communities, like Duncan, are pretty much as good a spot as any to money in on the increase.


"There's quite a bit of expertise on the island," he stated. "Quite a bit experience growing at home for personal use."



Fertile territory: legal marijuana production blooms on Vancouver Island

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