cannabis farm operation targeting expansion in new mexico

Up to 120,000 square feet of production facilities are planned for construction in Tularosa, New Mexico as part of what will be the largest cannabis cultivation site in the U.S.

The Ultra Health company, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, says the site on desert land will also include 80 acres of outdoor cannabis fields and 100 acres of outdoor hemp fields.

Located on Otero County land just off of the Old Tularosa Farm Road, the Ultra Health project is responding to a growing market for medical cannabis.

But company officials say they are exploring the possibility of expanding Ultra Health’s facilities, should New Mexico make the sale of recreational marijuana legal.

Ultra Health announced in early 2017 that it was partnering with Israeli company Panaxia Pharmaceuticals to produce a cannabis medicine offered in candy-like treats, tablets, and patches to be absorbed by the skin.

Ultra Health has a ready base of more than 50,000 people who are currently enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program.
The company’s expansion will also include 20 air-supported, wind-assisted style greenhouses.

The new production facilities, said Ultra Health Chief Executive Office Duke Rodriguez in a statement, will “ensure the commitment of continuing to produce and deliver the highest quality, most affordable, and convenient cannabis in the state.”

Whether New Mexico will eventually legalize the recreational sale and use of cannabis remains unknown. Currently, 29 states allow for the sale of medical marijuana, while 10 states permit both medical and recreational cannabis use.

As more states have been moving in the direction of legalization, so has public opinion. According to a recent Gallup Survey, 64 percent of respondents said they supported making marijuana legal for recreational purposes, up from 41 percent a decade ago.

By Garry Boulard