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Simon, who has a background in pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality assurance and regulatory affairs, expects to produce 1,000 kg of dried bud a year once the plant is in full operation next spring.

That output could be worth $10 million annually, not bad for a company with a half-dozen employees owned by two Edmonton men Simon wouldn’t identify.

He agrees it could be a profitable field.

“I hope it is. It’s tough to get to this point. There are a lot of costs to remain compliant. We talk about the effort to get the licence and maintain the licence,” he said.

“Marketing is another piece of this we will have to do something about.”

He envisions filling a “craft cannabis” niche, growing pot at a pharmaceutical standard containing moderate levels of psychoactive THC to avoid adverse reactions among customers and possibly selling to other companies rather than the public.

They’ll likely carry strains without the strong, distinctive marijuana odour.

“It doesn’t have to be skunky weed. There’s some stuff that smells like lemons, some nice fragrant stuff.”

The low-profile facility — there isn’t even a GrenEx sign outside — contains rooms with rows of aeroponic pots for propagating cuttings from mother plants, growing them and producing flowers to be dried and sold.

No dirt means fewer pests and less need for pesticides.

Lighting is crucial. While dim green bulbs illuminate some spaces so the omnipresent security cameras can keep an eye on the stock without starting growth, the bloom room is lit to trigger flowering with yellowish 1,000-watt metal halide lamps so bright the workers need sunglasses.