6 April 2018

CannaSher Inc. (“CannaSher”), a Sherbrooke company specializing in the growing and processing of cannabis for medical use, has announced the acquisition of the property located at 2100 Maximilien-Chagnon St. in the Sherbrooke Science Park.

A 12 000 sq. ft., three-story processing facility will be built on this 31 500 sq. ft. property. In accordance with Health Canada’s strict regulations, the facility will be built within the area dedicated to cannabis plant cultivation prescribed by the City of Sherbrooke’s zoning by-laws.

CannaSher plan to begin building the facility in May, and start cultivating medical cannabis before the end of the current year. CannaSher plans to hire some 50 employees to work in various sectors, such as growing, processing, and R&D. The hiring process for a skilled workforce should begin shortly.

“We are pleased to announce this important phase for CannaSher. By building our facilities in the Science Park, we will not only be in a peaceful and discreet location, but also benefit from proximity to our partners at the Université de Sherbrooke,” said Steven Blanchard, CannaSher’s President. “All of our plants will be grown indoors, far from prying eyes in a high-security facility that meets Health Canada’s requirements,” he added.

The first stage of the project will require an investment of $40M to construct the building and to acquire equipment. The land on which CannaSher will build its facility is also large enough for it to expand its activities in the future.

In the process of setting up its business, CannaSher is benefiting from the support of Sherbrooke Innopole. “In a highly regulated field like medical cannabis, CannaSher has shown rigour and determination in its efforts to establish itself in Sherbrooke and help propel the Consortium Vallée Verte,” noted Josée Fortin, Director General of Sherbrooke Innopole.

CannaSher, along with the Université de Sherbrooke and Neptune Technologies & Bioressources, is a member of the Consortium Vallée Verte, an initiative of Sherbrooke Innopole and the City of Sherbrooke that aims to turn Sherbrooke into a scientific and commercial hub for medical cannabis.

It should be noted that the sale of the property, approved by the municipal council Tuesday evening, remains subject to approval by the City of Sherbrooke of an application for conditional use, related to the plans for the site and the architecture of the building, among other things. The application for conditional use is still being processed.

Source and photo credit : CannaSher and Sherbrooke Innopole