Bolster central Pa economy with marijuana production | Opinion

With Pennsylvania considering recreational marijuana sales, the cannabis experience we had in Clinton County proves relevant to the debate.

As the president of the Chamber of Commerce in rural Clinton County, my favorite thing about our area is that we’re a pretty close community. We tend to be a bit traditional and we are actually proud of it. When we were approached by a Colorado-based marijuana company five years ago to start a medical marijuana grower / processor outside of Lock Haven, I really didn’t know what to think.

Initially, I was flooded with concern and struggled to take seriously the idea of ​​a marijuana production facility in our community. Did we really want to tie our car to a drug that continues to be illegal at the federal level and continues to face stigma across the country? It took a lot of education and a leap of faith to deal with the subject and consider the prospect of growing marijuana in our back yard.

Our journey began with Terrapin, an industry leader who wants to make a difference for Pennsylvanians with a medical marijuana card. Terrapin had a track record in other states and had specific plans to boost the local economy in Clinton County. The company’s CEO, Chris Woods, attended college at nearby Penn State University and wanted to create jobs in the area. We listened carefully to what he and his team had to say. We found that they are a professional, mission-driven team dedicated to making a quality, affordable medicine that changed people’s lives. Also important to our community was a commitment to local job creation, long-term workforce development, and being a good neighbor.

Terrapin gave us a better understanding of the marijuana industry. Meetings were held with business and community leaders, elected officials, local police and the district attorney. Terrapin’s CEO and clients took us through the cultivation and formulation processes and demonstrated how medical marijuana can be made for a variety of conditions. We were moved by the stories of parents whose children saw remarkable benefits in treating seizures. We’ve heard from seniors how marijuana helps with debilitating conditions like arthritis and glaucoma.

As President of the Chamber, I couldn’t help but enjoy the potential for economic development and the development of the workforce. Terrapin would initially hire 35 local workers from our area and plan to expand within three years.

Flash forward a year and Terrapin had all government clearances to obtain one of the original producer / processing licenses in the state. The brownfield site was renovated with local contractors for several million dollars. This investment had a positive impact on the community.

Terrapin then turned to the setting. They realized that there were large numbers of veterans in our area who were struggling to find work. Terrapin held a job fair at the local VFW Post office to recruit veterans for open positions. Around 300 people attended, which underscores the community’s enthusiasm and desire to bring the benefits of the marijuana economy to our region. Terrapin also helped found VetForce, a company owned and operated by veterans, to meet safety and transportation needs at the new facility.

Today Terrapin is working on an expansion of its manufacturing facility that will double its capacity to meet high product demand. It’s another $ 6 million infusion into our region. Here, too, the company is using local contractors for the expansion and has doubled the number of jobs in the facility.

The commitment to improving the quality of life in our district does not end here. Terrapin has made a generous donation to modernize the Veterans Park and donated US $ 25,000 to renovate a memorial that is central to our community.

My development in the marijuana industry is not unique. I hear and read about it a lot. Building on the success of the state’s medical marijuana program, a Franklin & Marshall poll released last fall shows that 58% of Pennsylvania voters now support the sale of adult recreational products.

I want to encourage state policymakers to be open to discussion. Terrapin Pennsylvania has made a good home in Clinton County, and we are proud to name them as partners on our journey to even greater economic recovery and sustainable growth.

Mike Flanagan is the President of the Clinton County Economic Partnership / Chamber of Commerce in Lock Haven.