North Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) A large scale greenhouse in North Tonawanda finds itself well positioned as a hemp cultivator to transition to cannabis cultivator this year.
Wheatfield Gardens has been growing medical grade hemp for the
past four years.
Now that Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Cannabis Cultivation bill this week, hemp farmers should be able to grow cannabis as early as this spring.
The greenhouse on Shawnee Road, among of the largest in the state, is on a pathway to be a major player in the rollout of adult-use recreational marijuana later this year.
"This is very welcome, not only to us, but to all of the farmers who have been
part of a state research program on industrial hemp since 2017," said Wheatfield Gardens CEO Paal Elfstrum.
"It's essentially the same plant, same genus and species. The only difference," he said, "is that adult-use cannabis produces an intoxicating chemical called THC. It's essentially the same plant that we've been growing for four years."
Adult-use cannabis would be a much more lucrative crop for farmers because of what's anticipated to be high demand in the marketplace.
Hemp growers can apply for a conditional license to cultivate adult-use cannabis. The licenses will only be awarded through the end of the year. Applicants must be able to begin operations within six months of receiving a license.
Currently, Wheatfield Gardens is growing several different crops. They grow lettuce and culinary herbs. The lettuce is sold at Tops Friendly Markets. They also grow lettuce for Buffalo Public Schools.
"We're very proud of our ability to grow several different crops and extend the growing season with our greenhouse," said Elfstrum. "Just as we are trusted to grow food, we should be trusted to grow adult-use cannabis as well."
Wheatfield Gardens would not only grow the product, but would have the ability to process the crop to put it into ingredient form for edibles and other formats for consumption.
Elfstrum is hoping that farmers can get seeds in the ground by May or June and then have a crop to harvest by November. "We anticipate being able to open retail locations either by the end of the year or by early 2023."
