A medical marijuana company with ties to Butler County became the first state licensee to begin production.
The state Department of Health announced Tuesday that Cresco Yeltrah was given the go-ahead to begin growing and processing marijuana at their Jefferson County facility. The company can begin accepting seeds and clones to grow medical marijuana. It is also fully integrated with the state approved seed-to-sale tracking system.
“In the coming weeks, we expect the 11 other grower/processors to be ready to grow and process medical marijuana,” Acting Health Secretary and Physician General Rachel Levine said in a statement. “We are working with them, as well as the dispensaries, to ensure the program stays on track. Patients are our first priority, and we want to get medication to them as safely and efficiently as possible.”
The company was co-founded by Butler County residents Trent and Kent Hartley, in cooperation with Chicago-based Cresco Labs and Colorado-based Denver Relief Consulting. Cresco Yeltrah will have dispensaries in Butler, the Strip District and a third undetermined location.
In June, the state issued 12 grower/processor permits. The department has also issued permits to 27 entities to operate retail dispensaries. Cresco Yeltrah’s facility in Brookville will grow over 30 different genetic strains and produce “a unique array of innovative pharmaceutical-grade marijuana products ranging from high CBD strains, vapor oils, transdermal patches and pills.”