NORMAL — Several organizations and Illinois State University would benefit financially if a Chicago-based company receives state approval for a medical marijuana cultivation center in Normal.
Ben Kovler, founder of Green Thumb Industries, said one of the company’s core principles is to invest in communities. Kovler said company officials did a lot of research in the community to determine what groups it would earmark for its community benefits plan.
Green Thumb “will commit significant time and financial resources to support” Special Olympics Illinois; Luther Social Service of Illinois; Illinois State University; the Prairielands Preservation Foundation; Project Oz; and Chestnut Health Systems, according to the company’s literature.
Kovler said the company will partner with ISU for its expertise in horticulture and agriculture. Some partnerships might include research projects with grad students, he said. There also may be scholarships.
GTI intends to dedicate resources to two Project Oz programs that provide housing to homeless youths and help prevent drug and alcohol use.
The company plans to donate money to the Prairielands Preservation Foundation to help with its effort to restore and preserve natural resources.
Alan Sender, chief operating officer for Chestnut, said GTI and several other groups applying for a state license to operate a medical marijuana cultivation center asked Chestnut for a letter of support of their applications. While Chestnut did not provide those letters, Sender said it did write a letter for GTI “supporting their commitment to provide funding to Chestnut to enhance its substance abuse program.”
Sender said he did not know how much money Chestnut would receive if GTI receives a license for the Normal facility.
The company has a signed lease for a 120,000-square-foot warehouse at 2551 W. College Ave., Kovler said. Only a portion of the building would be used in the beginning with the rest available for future growth, he said. Initially, the company would hire 35 full-time employees.
If GTI’s application is approved by the state the facility has to be up and running in six months, he said, and provide medical marijuana by spring 2015.
Typically, it takes four months for plants to grow from seed, he said. After that there is a drying, trimming, cutting and packaging process.
The company still is determining what forms of medical marijuana will be produced at the plant.
GTI has submitted applications for four cultivation centers; one each in Normal, Rock Island, Oglesby and Dixon. The state allows one company to operate up to three cultivation centers, he said.
GTI also has filed applications for three medical marijuana dispensaries, all in and around Chicago.
Company outlines plans for proposed marijuana cultivation center
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