FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 8, 2017
CannAscend Ohio Announces Plans to Seek State Permit, Build Medical Cannabis Production Facility in Wilmington
WILMINGTON, Ohio – CannAscend Ohio, LLC announced plans today to build a medical cannabis facility on land currently owned by the Wilmington Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).
The proposed facility will be built on a 19.2 acre lot on Davids Drive near the Wilmington Air Park pending state licensing of the group’s application to grow medical cannabis, which was legalized in 2016.
CannAscend Ohio – headed by Jimmy Gould, Ambassador Bill Brisben and Ian James – plans to apply for one of 12 of the state’s Level I cultivation facility licenses, which would allow the company to build a 25,000 sq. ft. medical cannabis growing facility, Gould explained.
“The growth of plant-based pharmaceuticals represents an important new trend in medical science. The resulting jobs and potential for greater research opportunities offers important prospects for partnerships with area colleges that have a focus on agriculture science, chemistry and biology,” said Wilmington Mayor John Stanforth. “We’re pleased to take this critical step to bring much-needed relief to pain sufferers who can benefit from these new legal remedies,” added Stanforth.
Ambassador Brisben, appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the U.S. representative to UNICEF (2002-’09) and founder of CannAscend Ohio said, “We’re pleased to be standing with Wilmington and the people who were instrumental in bringing legal medical cannabis to Ohio. We have a great opportunity to build an industry and facility in Wilmington that will provide medical cannabis to alleviate the suffering of so many people.”
After securing a cultivation license, CannAscend plans to bring additional jobs and opportunities to the area and will request the right to expand its facility to 50,000 sq. ft. then 75,000 sq. ft., as state law allows. The company also plans to utilize the 19.2 acre campus to build a research facility, and will apply for a product manufacturing license to bring additional jobs and tax revenue to the area.
“The proposal offers the exciting prospect of growing significant well-paying jobs and strengthening Wilmington’s position as a regional center of pharmaceutical-related manufacturing,” said former Wilmington Mayor and CIC Executive Director David Raizk. “Production of agriculture-based natural remedies for chronic medical conditions will benefit enormously from our strengths as center of farming and manufacturing.”
Under the Ohio law enacted in 2016, cultivator rules must be adopted by the state prior to May 6, 2017. The formal application process for licensure is expected to follow shortly thereafter.
“This has been a long journey, but a satisfying one because we’ve always kept our eye on legalizing medical cannabis for chronically-ill Ohioans – our returning veterans suffering from PTSD, children with epilepsy, those suffering from Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and the many others suffering from debilitating illnesses,” said Gould.
“I’m so pleased to be standing side by side with the Wilmington CIC and my friend of 40 years, Bill Brisben, as we embark upon the next leg of this effort. What endeared us to the community was the character, integrity and perseverance of the community which opened its arms to us,” Gould said, adding, “We fought for the patients of Ohio and now will continue our fight for the people of Wilmington.”
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CONTACT:
Jimmy Gould
513-362-4323
