Steady progress on Custom Cannabis facility

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

The medical marijuana facility under construction on the southern boundary of Claresholm next to Highway 2 is about six to eight weeks from being commissioned.

Jeff Nielsen, the chief executive officer and co-founder of Custom Cannabis, recently gave a tour to print and television media on Feb. 15 to provide an update on progress.

He explained at that time the facility is six to eight weeks away from being commissioned.

They have submitted all the details including drawings, security, staffing and much more to Health Canada.

“We’ve been approved to build it as is,” Nielsen said.

The next step is a test to demonstrated the security system, which should occur in the next 60 days.

Once that has been approved, Custom cannabis can start moving in plants.

So, Nielsen said, after more than 90 years of prohibition, they will start growing cannabis as medicine.

Product should be growing and distributed through a wholesaler by the summer.

Although with the legalization of cannabis for recreational use, the government makes no distinction between medicinal and recreational cannabis, all product has to be grown to a high quality.

However, Nielsen said Custom Cannabis is sticking to the medical side.

“We’re looking forward to this next little bit,” he said and moving into the final stages.

Once in production, the facility will be able to support 10,000 medical patients.

Custom Cannabis chose Claresholm for several reasons.

Nielsen explained Claresholm is one of the sunniest, driest places in Canada, making it ideal for their operation.

Moreover, the Town of Claresholm and the Municipal District of Willow Creek, where the facility is actually located, saw the facility as a benefit to the community, especially the jobs that will be created.

“They really saw it as a specialty agriculture,” Nielsen said.

Custom Cannabis will employ 15 people over the next few months, and 25 people six months from now.

They have job postings listed on the careers tab of their website, and have already received around 400 applications.

There is a variety of positions from science and lab-based, to cultivation and much more.

“That’s why the town is so enthusiastic about it,” said Mayor Doug MacPherson of the jobs to be created. “It’s pretty exciting for Claresholm.”

Beyond the jobs, he sees another benefit.

“I’m thinking of all the spin-offs,” MacPherson said. “It’s just an opportunity for growth.”