Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Some Illinois medical marijuana cultivators received the green light to begin growing medicine this past week from the state.
Officials at Ataraxia, the marijuana cultivator in Illinois State Police District 19 in Albion, announced Monday it received state authorization to begin growing medical cannabis.
The announcement for one of the first cultivators to begin growing product comes nearly two years after former Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law making medical marijuana legal in Illinois.
Gov. Bruce Rauner granted the cultivation and dispensary licenses in February.
Rebecca Clark of the Illinois Department of Agriculture said the department has authorized three cultivators to begin growing marijuana. At least nine more centers have picked up identification cards, or have the cards ready for employees.
She declined to comment about which other cultivators have been given the nod to begin production. Cultivation centers must pass a department inspection before receiving authorization.
"The Department will continue to grant authorizations as facilities become compliant with the department's rules, the act, and the plans included in each permittee's application and approved modification," Clark said.
In other parts of Southern Illinois, District 22 cultivator Wellness Group Pharms is just outside of Anna.
Manager Paul Montes said everything is running smoothly. In fact, construction was ahead of schedule before the influx of rain hit the region.
"We are on schedule," Montes said. "It is exciting to finally get some medicine to the patients out here in Illinois."
He said the 27,000-square-foot cultivation facility is scheduled to be finished in September, and the company hopes to be able to grow pot the same month. The first harvest is expected to be in early 2016, he said.
Montes said early employment projection will be about 15 to 20 people. He said the company will most likely host a job fair in the area, as well as launch a website with more information when it is ready to seek employees.
"We have identified some key personnel to get going, and we will do a formal hiring process for some of the other positions," he said.
Positions include a trimmer and reservoir worker, he said. Training will be provided. There will also be a need for security and a few administrative spots.
In Murphysboro, at the Southern Illinois Airport, District 13 cultivators Ieso LLC has plans to build a 50,000-square-foot cultivation center that will include 23,000 square feet of greenhouses, a research lab and a secure facility.
Representatives for Ieso could not be reached for comment, but Jackson County Board Chairman John Rendleman said the benefit to Jackson County is the addition of about 40 to 50 jobs.
"The real benefit is the increase in economic activity, and an increase of jobs that weren't there before," he said. "That, in itself, is a good thing."
He said the cultivation center sits in the Jackson County-Murphysboro-Carbondale enterprise zone. In the enterprise zone, 100 percent of increased property taxes are abated for the first five years after the project is completed. Starting with the sixth year, 50 percent of property taxes are abated until year 10.
"It would be nice if it was a private parcel land for more revenue, but 40 to 50 jobs is better than nothing at all," Rendleman said.
Airport Manager Gary Shafer said the airport is expected to see economic benefits exceeding $450,000.
He said the cultivators have agreed on a 10-year lease with the airport. The lease also includes two 10-year options.
"We are viewing it as a 30-year lease," Shafer said. "They have been a great tenant already."
He said the development at the airport has already started to spur additional projects, as the airport is engaged with another company concerning future plans. He did not reveal what it is. He did say it is unrelated to medical marijuana, but is in the agricultural industry.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana cultivators hope to be growing in September : News
Author: Dustin Duncan
Contact: dustin.duncan@thesouthern.com
Photo Credit: Byron Hetzler, The Southern
Website: thesouthern.com - Southern Illinois news, Carbondale, Marion IL
Officials at Ataraxia, the marijuana cultivator in Illinois State Police District 19 in Albion, announced Monday it received state authorization to begin growing medical cannabis.
The announcement for one of the first cultivators to begin growing product comes nearly two years after former Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law making medical marijuana legal in Illinois.
Gov. Bruce Rauner granted the cultivation and dispensary licenses in February.
Rebecca Clark of the Illinois Department of Agriculture said the department has authorized three cultivators to begin growing marijuana. At least nine more centers have picked up identification cards, or have the cards ready for employees.
She declined to comment about which other cultivators have been given the nod to begin production. Cultivation centers must pass a department inspection before receiving authorization.
"The Department will continue to grant authorizations as facilities become compliant with the department's rules, the act, and the plans included in each permittee's application and approved modification," Clark said.
In other parts of Southern Illinois, District 22 cultivator Wellness Group Pharms is just outside of Anna.
Manager Paul Montes said everything is running smoothly. In fact, construction was ahead of schedule before the influx of rain hit the region.
"We are on schedule," Montes said. "It is exciting to finally get some medicine to the patients out here in Illinois."
He said the 27,000-square-foot cultivation facility is scheduled to be finished in September, and the company hopes to be able to grow pot the same month. The first harvest is expected to be in early 2016, he said.
Montes said early employment projection will be about 15 to 20 people. He said the company will most likely host a job fair in the area, as well as launch a website with more information when it is ready to seek employees.
"We have identified some key personnel to get going, and we will do a formal hiring process for some of the other positions," he said.
Positions include a trimmer and reservoir worker, he said. Training will be provided. There will also be a need for security and a few administrative spots.
In Murphysboro, at the Southern Illinois Airport, District 13 cultivators Ieso LLC has plans to build a 50,000-square-foot cultivation center that will include 23,000 square feet of greenhouses, a research lab and a secure facility.
Representatives for Ieso could not be reached for comment, but Jackson County Board Chairman John Rendleman said the benefit to Jackson County is the addition of about 40 to 50 jobs.
"The real benefit is the increase in economic activity, and an increase of jobs that weren't there before," he said. "That, in itself, is a good thing."
He said the cultivation center sits in the Jackson County-Murphysboro-Carbondale enterprise zone. In the enterprise zone, 100 percent of increased property taxes are abated for the first five years after the project is completed. Starting with the sixth year, 50 percent of property taxes are abated until year 10.
"It would be nice if it was a private parcel land for more revenue, but 40 to 50 jobs is better than nothing at all," Rendleman said.
Airport Manager Gary Shafer said the airport is expected to see economic benefits exceeding $450,000.
He said the cultivators have agreed on a 10-year lease with the airport. The lease also includes two 10-year options.
"We are viewing it as a 30-year lease," Shafer said. "They have been a great tenant already."
He said the development at the airport has already started to spur additional projects, as the airport is engaged with another company concerning future plans. He did not reveal what it is. He did say it is unrelated to medical marijuana, but is in the agricultural industry.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana cultivators hope to be growing in September : News
Author: Dustin Duncan
Contact: dustin.duncan@thesouthern.com
Photo Credit: Byron Hetzler, The Southern
Website: thesouthern.com - Southern Illinois news, Carbondale, Marion IL
