Sudbury medical marijuana grow-op 'ready to roll'

Sudbury's first large scale medical marijuana grow-op could be up and running next month.

The company known as 682 RX Incorporated is applying for new commercial growing licences from Health Canada. Financial consultant Bob Bateman said the firm expects to have everything in place in the coming weeks.

"Laboratory affiliations have been settled, the site has been tentatively settled and it's ready to roll."

It's too early to discuss the location of the legal grow-op, Bateman said, but noted it will be in an industrial park somewhere in Greater Sudbury — a location that fits with the new zoning regulations city councillors voted in earlier this month.

A Sudbury family who's simply looking for a good investment is behind the venture, Bateman added.

"Their prime target is in the pharmaceutical industry. If the recreational use becomes a reality, then the market just grows exponentially from there.”

The company expects to hire about six full-time employees, he said. Bateman also predicted there will be a lot of economic spin-offs for medical researchers and biologists in the city.