From Baton Rouge Louisiana and attended LSU.  Did various things including software business and tour guide.  Most recently worked with venture capitalists to restore wetlands in Louisiana.  Very experienced with heavily regulated industry.

 

Got interested in the I-502 opportunities while attending a concert at the Gorge.  Sold a successful company and moved here to start a 90 day residency requirement and to look for the right spot for a producer processing manufacturing plant. 

 

Arlington is a friendly location without a moratorium and the old Bayliner plant was being converted to house multiple enterprises.

Hooked up with a grower—Sean.  Worked on getting all the permitting done at the State level and with City of Arlington. Over 80 page application with state needing plans for every aspect and complete facility design.  Confirmation came in about 2 months on August 12, 2015.

 

State doesn’t allow producer processors to sell retail.  Pioneer Nuggets grows, harvests, packages and labels. 

 

They produce “craft” cannabis—no oils.  Started with 3 persons, now 15, hopes to double.  Mostly aged 25-35.  Learning as they go.

6,000 square space of growing area broken into 8 canopies so that there can be weekly harvesting instead of growing a crop at a time.  Set up as manufacturing plant.  Everything must be tracked from seed to harvested buds—even if destroyed.  There is a quarantine period to assure quality.  System allows workers to know their job well rather than working the product from seed to packaging.

 

Can’t grow medical marijuana in this facility.  Some medical providers are trying recreational.  High tax on recreational so there is speculation medical is being misused.

 

Electrical bill runs $6700 per month. Totally different product than outside grown. Last month costs $81,000 and income $45,000.  Product grown in special mix—not dirt. Size of operation can’t exceed 15,000 square feet with maximum of 10,000 in growing.