Inside an incredibly secure building in a nondescript neighborhood in Sparks, grow lights, hydroponics, processing stations and drying rooms are the norm.
One of the first medical marijuana grow facilities in Northern Nevada is almost ready to harvest.
"It's taken us two-and-a-half years to get this far," says founding partner and CEO John Sutton. "Actually there have been a lot of milestones along the way, like getting a license, seeing the first plants growing, and there have been a lot of headwinds getting this far. But we are proud to have gotten this far because of the impact we are going to have on people’s lives.”
Sutton says he’s seen how medical marijuana can help patients. He has a son with a rare genetic disorder. In fact, he says all 40 employees there have similar passions for the industry.
The business is located in what used to be a bank cash transfer station so the security is amazing. Not only do they have to adhere to hundreds of federal, state and city regulations, the entire building is wired with cameras videotaping the operation 24 hours a day so that enforcement teams can check in at any time.
“I don’t think anyone realizes what it really takes to do this,” Sutton says. “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.”
And he says while there’s no doubt the industry will make money and it is his charge by investors to see that it does, that’s not what got him involved. After seeing how medical marijuana could help his son he assembled a team to do research and refine it.
“I’m not saying we wouldn't get involved if it becomes recreational here, but that’s not why I’m involved. We feel like that’s what people think but that’s a misconception. The other big misconception is that we are all stoners. And that’s just not true either. We are a group of people trying to bring about change so that people can use a natural substance for pain rather than just what they can currently get at a pharmacy.”
Silver State Trading had its final health inspection on Monday.
