Cranbrook could be on the forefront of a burgeoning medical marijuana industry.
Dycar Pharmaceuticals, a private B.C. incorporated company, recently announced its plans, well underway, to establish a licensed commercial facility in the city's industrial zone.
The proposed facility will be located in an existing 86,000 square foot building. The facility will house the growing operations and the head office. Dycar noted it will employ up to 200 people at full production and estimates the facility will be an $8 million investment.
Dylen Wannop, the president and CEO of Dycar Pharmaceuticals Ltd, said the company has been working with city officials and planners for the past 14 months, noting for instance, Kevin Weaver, the city's Business and Economic Development Manager.
"We've been kind of keeping things low key, because it is a process what we've been doing," Wannop said. "And unfortunately there are no guarantees."
He said they are confident they will be able to put this facility together.
The facility would be licensed under Health Canada's Marjuana for Medical Purposes Regulations.
"We were your typically Ma and Pa designated growers for the last 12 years and we are trying to get into what's called the big boys market," he said.
Wannop said the application is in and complete and they are waiting for the review. The company is working with Vancouver consulting firm Archer Adler Solutions Inc.
"Every time Health Canada has made a new requirement for the application, it is in our application," Wannop said. "It can't be any more complete than what it is."
The licensing documents were submitted to Health Canada on January 15, 2015.
Upon federal approval of Dycar's plans, Health Canada will provide a "Letter of Authorization to Build". Wannop said they expect that to be awarded in late spring, 2015.
Construction of the facilities, as well as hiring and training are expected to take four or five months after the authorization is granted by Health Canada. The company expects that production could start in the fourth quarter of 2015.