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Medical Marijuana Business Looks to Build Facility in Rock Island

The business Green Thumb Industries met with Rock Island leaders about its potential business plan on Tuesday, September 16, 2014. The city of Rock Island sold ...

The business Green Thumb Industries met with Rock Island leaders about its potential business plan on Tuesday, September 16, 2014.

The city of Rock Island sold the land to GTI in July of this year. GTI wants to build a 30,000 to 50,000 square foot medical marijuana production facility at 8153 51st Street West in southwest Rock Island. But Illinois will allow just one facility to be built in Knox, Henry, and Rock Island Counties. GTI says there are a number of businesses applying for this zone.

"At the end of the day, this is about manufacturing a medicine for the patients at a warehouse, here in Rock Island, and that's what we're going to do," GTI CEO Ben Kovler said after their closed door meeting Monday.

GTI says it should have its application complete in this week. GTI says the state will select which business gets to build its marijuana facility by November of this year. If approved, GTI would like to start construction shortly after the November decision.

Tuesday, Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Bruce Rauner's campaign said that "22 licenses will be issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture for 'cultivation centers.'" GTI is applying to be one of those 22 centers in the state.

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