An application has been submitted to open a cannabis oil extraction and processing facility in Delta.
Council tomorrow will consider granting preliminary approval for Embark Health Inc. to rezone and retrofit an existing three-storey industrial building on Annacis Island in order to establish the new production facility with an associated research and development component.
The 39,000-square-foot facility at 1629 Foster's Way would not grow cannabis.
Embark would be purchase cannabis materials from licensed producers and cannabinoids would be extracted. The extracted oils would be sold or processed in an array of cannabis-based consumer products.
A staff report notes the business model includes innovative state-of-the-art extraction technology and equipment as well as a clinical and lab research component to support the medical market.
Embark has advised that there is interest from the medical community in developing extraction technology so that extremely pure forms of the cannabinoids can be obtained.
The report also notes Embark currently has established partnerships with a number of post-secondary clinical research labs including the University of British Columbia, McGill University and Stanford University.
The retail sales of cannabis or any products containing or derived from cannabis remains prohibited under the city’s zoning bylaw.
Council will consider sending the application to a public hearing for comment. Staff are supportive of the proposed location of the production facility, noting there’s been no problems with another marijuana facility, Zenabis, also currently located on Foster’s Way.
Embark's website notes, “In addition to being the production hub and lab for Embark’s cannabis extraction, this facility is proposed to be one of the first large independent Canadian edibles kitchens.”
