Another medical cannabis dispensary is on its way to Jackson County

MILLWOOD – Tariff Labs was on the hunt for a high-tech facility to house a medical cannabis dispensary in West Virginia — the company found that in Jackson County. 

The Jackson County Development Authority's lease with Tariff Labs, a medical cannabis production company, includes more than 12 acres of property and a 37,500-square-foot facility. 

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The dispensary will live in Jackson County's Maritime and Industrial Park, according to the county's development authority. 

Tariff Labs is also opening a dispensary in Spencer, West Virginia, which will produce and dispense medical marijuana and provide patient education. 

According to the authority's press release, the company is expecting to invest $12 million in the initial phases of operation and hire 100 employees. 

Tariff Labs is partnering with Firelands Scientific, another medical marijuana company based in Huron, Ohio, for the Millwood site with the hopes of eventually opening 10 sites across the state. The duo expects to have products on its shelves between January and March 2022. 

"The objective for the company is to provide a source of high-quality alternative medicine option for patients in West Virginia, including options for pain management that doesn't involve opioid dependence which has devastated the nation and particularly our region in West Virginia and Ohio," Jeff McCourt, executive officer for Firelands Scientific said. "The fact that we get to deploy our world-class operating model and bring good quality jobs and economic development to the Jackson and Roane County region, is all the more satisfying."

Ravenswood Mayor Josh Miller, Del. Steve Westfall and the state's Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael assisted in bringing the dispensary to Jackson County. 

Once Tariff Labs receives approval from the Board of Health, it will begin hiring for positions in production, administration and management. 

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— Katelyn Waltemyer (she/her) is the General Assignment and Enterprise Reporter for Jackson Newspapers in Jackson County, West Virginia. Have a news tip on local government or education? Or a good feature? You can reach Katelyn at kwaltemyer@jacksonnewspapers.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kate_Waltemyer.