THUNDER BAY – A medical marijuana warehouse producer in Thunder Bay has been given federal government approval to start producing cannabis for commercial use.
Matt Pearson, general manager of River Green, said it hasn't been easy getting to this point, and the work's just getting started.
“The reality is, you do all this work to get your licence, but once you get your licence, the real work begins,” Pearson said in a recent interview.
The approval means the company, who have asked media not to reveal the location of the facility, can begin large-scale cannabis production. River Green has 30 independent grow rooms inside their 100,000 square-foot building.
Pearson said they've taken an abundance of caution to ensure the facility is safe and secure.
“Not only does it have the operating procedures and protocols you'd find in medical facilities like hospitals, we also have a level of security that is equal to or would rival some prison facilities,” Pearson said.
He added the cannabis is being produced as efficiently as possible, allowing for a more consistent product, while also drastically cutting the seed-to-store time down from the usual four-month time frame.
River Green uses a specialized hydroponic system and the latest growing technology, like green lights, which simulate a dark period for the plants, while still permitting workers to see what they're doing.
“We're eliminating variables such as inconsistent sun, inconsistent hydration, potentially inconsistent nutrients – all the problems that come with growing in soil,” Pearson said.
In the initial stages, Pearson said the company will be using about 25 per cent of their building, but hope to ramp that up to 100 per cent if they're eventually allowed to produce recreational marijuana.
At that point, Pearson said they'll have a significant number of staff on the payroll.
“When we're fully built out, and we can't say what the future brings, but we're looking at between 45 and 60 jobs.”
-- With files from Cory Nordstrom, Thunder Bay Television
