Nanaimo medical marijuana company Tilray will build a second facility in Ontario in order to quintuple its production.
Tilray announced Thursday a $30-million capital investment in a cultivation and processing facility in Enniskillen, Ont. According to a press release, the second facility will allow Tilray to boost production to 51 metric tonnes by the end of 2018.
“This is another strategic milestone for Tilray as we aim to build the world’s most trusted and admired medical cannabis brand,” said Brendan Kennedy, Tilray chief executive officer, in a press release. “As governments around the world increase access to medical cannabis, and as Canada prepares to legalize and regulate cannabis for responsible adult consumption, this investment will enable us to serve the rapidly expanding global market for quality-controlled, rigorously tested medical cannabis products.”
Tilray currently exports medical cannabis products to six countries on four continents, and has plans to export to five other countries by the end of 2017.
According to the press release, Tilray’s Nanaimo facility has the capacity to produce eight metric tonnes of medical cannabis per year. It also houses a research-and-development centre focused on processing products such as oils and capsules.
The 40-hectare Ontario property is currently home to the Enniskillen Pepper Company, but Tilray has submitted an application to Health Canada for a licence to produce medical cannabis at the site. The first phase of Tilray’s plans will convert the space into a four-hectare greenhouse with 40,000 square feet of processing space. The company expects to create 200-250 jobs in that region over the next five years.
“I’m very happy to work with Tilray to take the steps needed to make this endeavour a reality in the community,” said Kevin Marriott, mayor of the Township of Enniskillen, in the press release.
The owner of the pepper company, Jack Greydanus, said in the release that his company embraces opportunities for growth and development in Enniskillen.
“From pepper plants to cannabis, our region is known for its agricultural capability,” he said.