By L. Parsons With the legalization of cannabis for adults in Arizona, area grow facilities are expanding and offering more jobs for area residents. In Snowflake, Copperstate Farms just entered into a development agreement with the Town of Snowflake to expand its operations. The facility, which cultivates and extracts cannabis, will move from a 40 acre greenhouse to an 80 acre greenhouse, making it the largest cannabis greenhouse in the United States. They also hold the distinction of being the largest wholesale seller for cannabis in the country. Currently, they supply medical and recreational products to four Sol Flower dispensaries located around the Phoenix area. The corporation already owns the land the new greenhouse will be built on, and the Town of Snowflake is in support of the reaffirmation and expansion of the special use permit, which will now cover the entire 150-acre parcel. In a statement by Snowflake Town Manager Brian Richards, he said, “We are proud to support Copperstate and its growth. The company has become a valuable and intrinsic part of our community, generating hundreds of jobs and revitalizing our town.” In fact, the facility has become the largest employer in Snowflake, providing over 350 jobs. According to the company’s website, there are 100 more jobs expected as the new grow operation takes hold. The cannabis industry is set to make major strides as more states add the recreational provisions to their law books. Arizona, for example, legalized the recreational use of cannabis for adults 21 years of age and older in last November’s general election. That proposition passed with the approval of nearly 60% of voters. In that proposition, it is outlined where tax revenue generated by the sale of cannabis would be distributed. The state imposes a 16% excise tax on cannabis sales. Of that 33% to community colleges, 31.4% to municipal police and fire departments, 25.4% to a highway fund, 10% to a justice fund, .18% is distributed to the enforcement of state cannabis regulations and .02% goes to the state attorney general for cannabis law enforcement. Local governments have already begun seeing the benefits of the funding model. Earlier this month, the Navajo County Board of Supervisors approved an award to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $19,177 through the Proposition 207 share. The dollar amounts being shared by local governments is expected to increase drastically over the next few years. According to the Arizona Department of Revenue, the MET (Marijuana Excise Tax) reported for the month of January was over half a million dollars state wide. Experts with the department say that will continue indefinitely. Online cannabis education and accessibility leader, Leafly has projected total market sales in Arizona are projected to reach $3 billion by 2023. Copperstate Farms is just one of several cannabis grow operations in Navajo County making big moves. The Medicine Room, LLC in Winslow employs approximately 40 people full time. According to their finance director, Dan Cassetti, they are looking to hire more as their grow operation expands. Last year, The Medicine Room purchased and renovated the building adjacent to their facility, which expanded their operation to 11,000 square feet of indoor cultivation space. They also utilize an 8,100 square foot greenhouse. However, the facility is now under new ownership. Last month, Verano Holdings Corporation, a multi-state cannabis operator acquired The Medicine Room and its three Territory Dispensaries located around the Phoenix area. Verano explains this move on their website as a merger as the staff and administrators for The Medicine Room and Territory Dispensaries will remain largely the same. In total, Verano paid The Medicine Room over $2.3 million for that operation. That is a combination of $1.6 million in cash and 27,500 shares of Verano stock. In addition, Curaleaf, a cannabis grow operation in Holbrook is reportedly expanding that operation and is currently advertising for employees. Curaleaf operates in 23 states with 96 dispensaries, 23 cultivation sites, and over 30 processing sites. The company has also recently acquired the European marijuana company Emac Life Sciences for $286 million, taking it from the largest cannabis company in the US to potentially the largest in the world.
