Weedon, tiny Quebec town with an apropos name, hopes to become a cannabis capital

Weedon is the name, andthe smallQuebec town's mayor says "it's no secret" that the moniker helped attract the constructionof a1.5 million-square-foot cannabis production facility.

But Mayor Richard Tanguay said "it all worked out because we had the other elements, too" that convincedtwo Canadian companies to invest in the municipality in Quebec's Eastern Townships with a population of about 2,800.

MYMNutraceuticals, amedicalmarijuana producer,has partnered with Montreal-basedCannaCanada to build15 100,000-square-foot greenhouses at an old gravel pit.

The project is expected to cost $200 million and in its second phase would include an "interpretation centre," consisting of a research facility, museum and auditorium.

RobGietl, CEO of MYMNutraceuticals,said it was the name that led its partner,Canna Canada, to considerWeedon in its research for a place to set up.

"Yes, the name is a great marketing tool,"Gietlsaid with a laugh.

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"But at the end of the day, it was about the perfect fit the mayor, the council members, the city itself in terms of being ableto grow and develop within the community, which is embracing this."

Tanguay said what sealed the deal wasthe municipality's remoteness, agro-forestry industry and its workdeveloping a sustainability project.

Boon for a small town

Gietl said the company is hoping to break groundthis summer and start production soon after.

He said the company is "100 per cent focusing on medical marijuana at the moment," but that it would look into growing cannabis for recreational use.

Marijuana is set to be legalized across the country in the summer of 2018.

"It's a very interesting time in this industry," Geitl said.

The mayor said the project would be a huge boost to the town's economy, which is experiencing a lull.

It's expected tocreate at least 200 jobs and foster related business activity.

"One day this could makeWeedonknown across the world,"Tanguaysaid.

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