Buffalo, New York to Gain up to 1,000 Jobs at Cannabis Campus

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]U[/dropcap]pstate New York is at the brink of revolution with a new cannabis campus in development. The Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC) recently voted unanimously to sell a large piece of property at the Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park to Flora California Prime Inc.

Flora plans on converting the 47-acre plot into a $200 million cannabis campus. The project could create 500-1,000 jobs for the area. According to the press release, job candidates who are residents of Buffalo or minorities will be given preference. Flora will run an extraction laboratory and conduct “product development.” The company will utilize up to 1.25 million square feet of space housing a cannabis factory, cultivation, manufacturing and distribution operations.

“With Flora’s investment at Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park, Buffalo stands at the forefront of the legal cannabis industry that is growing statewide and internationally,” stated Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. “Flora’s investment will benefit our area by increasing job opportunities, adding to our tax base and strengthening the institutions that partner will flora on research and development. I am also pleased that Flora will soon be announcing a community benefit strategy in line with my commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in Buffalo.”

BUDC approved the sale of the property for $1.9 million. It would be one of the largest cannabis-related projects of its kind in the nation. Similar projects have sprung up in places like Michigan.

The project could transform upstate New York into an environment where cannabis business can flourish. San Diego-based Flora operates health and wellness spaces throughout California. The company will be partnering with the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to conduct research on the medical benefits of cannabis on the campus. In addition, SUNY Erie Community College will be partnering with the campus as well, and put together training material for those who are looking for a job in the cannabis industry.