The City of Greenwood has been in discussion with a Kelowna-based company about the possibility of establishing a medical marijuana production facility in the old elementary school house on South Government Street.
Mayor Nipper Kettle let the Times in on the proposal a couple of weeks ago when he confirmed that rumours circulating in the community were true. The story was also confirmed by Adam Sexsmith, co-founder and vice-president of production with CorCanna Group Inc.
In response to an email inquiry from the Times, Sexsmith wrote that CorCanna is a management and consulting company based out of Kelowna that facilitates the medical marijuana industry._
“For the medical marijuana sector, we offer pre-concept through sale solutions to a number of clients throughout southern British Columbia and reaching as far as Quebec,” Sexsmith wrote.
“We can confirm that we have clients interested in Greenwood, as well as a number of different municipalities and areas around the Boundary Region as potential locations for production facilities and the other ancillary businesses.”
Sexsmith wrote that CorCanna intends to have “public introductions” in Greenwood or any other regions, in full detail after necessary information is granted by Health Canada about any potential buildings or properties attached to a potential application.
“They have got to have all their ducks in a row by Aug. 29 and then they will know for sure,” said Mayor Nipper Kettle when asked to comment on Sexsmiths’ email.
“But I suspect that over the next two or three years you will see all of Canada going to legalization,” Kettle added. “I know that all of these people are looking to build places now, I know darn well they are not just counting on the 40,000 customers that are legal marijuana users now. They are counting on that growth in business.”
The mayor said he supports the project because it will take a building that is an eyesore within the community and turn it into something that is going to be a benefit to Greenwood and employ some people.
“None of this is going to be set firm until they actually get their plans,” Kettle explained. “They are doing their due diligence now—they are jumping through all of the hoops that the Minister of Health has for that type of thing. It’s going to cost them a lot of money but what it comes down to like I say the drop dead date is Aug. 29.”