The production of medical marijuana is closer to becoming a reality for Prentiss and Jefferson Davis County. The company, Mississippi Green Oil, is expected to open sometime late this summer. Tom Moore, owner of Moore Companies, LLC. of D’Iberville, is developing the project located at the industrial park on John Street Extension.
“The building process is moving quickly,” said Moore. The projected completion date is May 2, although Moore feels they are ahead of schedule.
The once empty, wide open warehouse, is now divided into what will be seven flower grow rooms, extraction lab, trim rooms, offices and a full state of the art kitchen. Thirty employees, some local, with extensive onsite training will work at the facility. The MGO building will also include a sterile packaging room for gummies, caps, pills and pre-rolls and other products to be manufactured including inhalers, patches, powder for teas, etc. HVAC is being installed this week throughout the facility.
Moore and Winston Ceasear, director of operations for Moore Companies, are currently interviewing bakers throughout the state to bring them on board. “We are looking at pastry chefs to bring their expertise and work with our on-site chef to formulate unique candies and edibles for MGO,” said Ceasear. Mike Yarborough will serve as the on-site chef and will also be director of operations in Prentiss full-time. Moore said they are looking at some of the top 10 bakeries in Mississippi. “Someone that can come in and understands how to make something taste good will be an asset,” he said.
Land has been cleared in the rear of the building for two ponds that will be created in the use of aquaponics. A circulation pond will feed into the second pond holding the nutrients. One pond will be filtered back into each grow room separately that will hold the nutrients for the plants. “In doing research, aquaponics is the best way to grow,” Ceasear said.
An additional 60,000 square feet for growing will be added to left side of the building facing Highway 84. Construction of that addition will begin in August.
Although the project will be complete in May, the company cannot apply for licensing with the state until June. The Mississippi State Department of Health is overseeing the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program and is currently working to establish the licensing and patient registry structures in accordance with Senate Bill 2095, which became a law Feb. 2.
According to the website, MSDH plans to begin accepting online license applications in June for: patients, medical practitioners, cannabis cultivation facilities, cannabis processing facilities, cannabis testing facilities, cannabis waste disposal entities and cannabis transportation entities.
Once the application process begins in June, there will be a 30-day approval time for licensure applications, and a five-day approval time for program patients. The Mississippi Department of Revenue will be responsible for the licensing of medical cannabis dispensaries.
Moore says he has been amazed at the respect he has seen for medicinal marijuana throughout this process. “And I can’t say enough about the support from the Jefferson Davis County supervisors and the mayors of Prentiss and Bassfield. It has been overwhelming.”
