PALATKA, Fla. – Leaders at the 5th largest dispensary in the state, which has a massive grow operation inside an old furniture warehouse in Palatka, said the company is ready to expand and meet consumer demand if Florida voters choose to approve a constitutional amendment later this year to legalize the drug for recreational use.
“Currently the total facility is about 500,000 total square feet. But we’ve only to date remodeled and made useful about 75,000 feet of it. We have a long way to go,” said Tom Grebenstein, Market Leader at Green Dragon Florida.
On Thursday, News4JAX got a behind-the-scenes look at the Colorado-based company’s facility where it is cultivating and processing medical marijuana.
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In one 10,000-square-foot room in the facility, the company said it is growing about 9,000 plants. Green Dragon Florida leaders said if Florida passes a law that would make the use of marijuana legal for people over 21 in November, it would need about 18 more sections to keep up with the demand.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Thursday he’s against a proposed constitutional amendment that would make recreational marijuana legal in Florida. One of the main reasons he’s against it? The smell.
“It’s basically a license to have it anywhere you want. No time, place, and manner restrictions. This state will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and towns, it will reduce the quality of life,” DeSantis said at a news conference in South Florida.
Grebenstein addressed that concern, one that other Florida residents have also expressed.
“We have a very effective air handling system and air filter,” he said. “We take the smell abatement very seriously. We’re right next to a residential community and we don’t want those folks to be uncomfortable.”
The facility grows marijuana and produces joints, buds, gummies and more for Florida dispensaries.
Grebenstein said his company has helped thousands of people with medical conditions. Green Dragon said it has 37 stores, has invested $30 million into the state, and helps contribute to a stable workforce in a rural community. The property is the site of the former Florida Furniture Factory warehouse near the St. Johns River.
“You can imagine about 400 to 500 people were employed here when it went out of business. It was a major blow to the city of Palatka. So, we’re thrilled to be here, and to be in a spot to bring just as many jobs back to the community,” Grebenstein said.
The company said one of the benefits of legalized or medical marijuana is that there isn’t the potential for tampering like there is with other drugs that are bought on the street. It’s controlled and made with the consumer in mind, the company said.
The growing industry said it is poised and ready for Florida to vote yes in November.