Adelaide’s medical cannabis jobs boom as LeafCann facility given ‘major project’ status
Green-thumbs, builders, researchers and designers will all be called upon to make a major medical cannabis facility in the south.
National
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Adelaide is set to become a medical cannabis powerhouse, with a processing facility in the southern suburbs tipped to create more than 1400 jobs.
Approvals for the plant in Adelaide’s southern suburbs could be fast-tracked from today, when the centre is granted “major project” status.
The LeafCann facility is expected to begin manufacturing in the first three months of next year, and step up to full operation by mid-2022.
There will be a call-out for green-thumbs needed to cultivate the cannabis crops, as well as jobs in manufacturing, research and design.
In total, the centre is expected to create 1400 jobs, as well as 850 during the construction and development phase.
Two other firms have received licences to manufacture medical cannabis in SA.
Federal Industry Minister Karen Andrews will announce the “major project” status for the SA facility, along with two Victorian factories, which will help smooth their way through the approvals process.
It comes as the Federal Government looks to establish an export-ready industry in Australia before countries in Asia legalise medical cannabis, prompting major demand.
More than 14,600 Australians already have approval from their doctor to use cannabis, according to figures tabled in Parliament last year.
“When you combine our world-renowned agriculture sector, with our trusted reputation for medical products, Australia is in a unique position to dominate the global medicinal cannabis industry,” Ms Andrews said. “This is a major investment in South Australia and will see the local economy grow even further and create a broad variety of jobs.
“It is a great example of how we can expand the types of industries that exist in SA, by leaning on long-time strengths like agriculture and producing medical products.”
LeafCann Group chief executive Elisabetta Faenza welcomed the major project status, saying it would help expedite the company’s expansion plans and presence in SA.
“LeafCann’s core objective remains ensuring the delivery of the highest quality products at a fair price to Australian patients first, followed by developing the substantial export market potential,” she said.
PhytoGro’s medicinal cannabis cultivation and medical device manufacturing facility in Melbourne’s inner west will also be given major project status, along with a centre in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley region.
Six medical cannabis producing operations have now been granted major project status.
The global medical cannabis market is tipped to boom from $667 million in 2016 to $2.6 billion by 2025.
Originally published as Adelaide’s medical cannabis jobs boom as LeafCann facility given ‘major project’ status