Cann Pharmaceutical Tamworth cannabis farm hits public consultation, but company stays mum about $7.7 million scheme

The startup company submitted plans to build the major Appleby "intensive plant agriculture facility" in May.

Details of the development are available to the public, but Cann Pharmaceutical declined to answer questions from the Leader; including whether the company had designs on additional cannabis production facilities and why the Tamworth region is attractive to the industry.

The project's updated development application is on public display and open for comment until October 11.

If approved, it would be Tamworth's second and the region's third major medical marijuana facility, including one near Armidale.

The Israeli-American company would use "advanced greenhouse and automation technology" to grow EP1, a proven treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, to distribute nationwide.

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Security will be tight surrounding and within the facility, including a 24-hour guard, heavy CCTV coverage and an elaborate process for disposing of unviable cannabis.

The waste product will have to be escorted by police from Tamworth to a licensed incinerator in Silverwater.

The facility would employ as many as 15 staff to work in agronomy, flowering, harvest, drying and curing the product inside the high-security facility.

The property is currently used for grazing animal agriculture.

DA documents the company submitted claim "the proponent intends to construct a 9,417m2 greenhouse, 500m2 greenhouse and 895.61m2 production facility to be used for intensive plant agriculture. In particular, the facility shall grow and produce medical cannabis to be distributed throughout Australia".

"The operations of the facility would not create any detrimental impacts on the area and is expected to provide economic and social benefits to the local economy and regional community."

The facility will be armed with floodlights to be used in an emergency, but during normal operations just a single light in the security station will be visible.

There will be only one access point, a guarded security gate with an electronic card access system, according to the DA.

"The construction and operation of the development will secure permanent and part time employment, whilst providing a product that has rapidly become an Australian identified health solution for those in need," the DA said.

"The proposed development is permissible in the RU1 Primary Production zone and would not create any unacceptable adverse impact on the community."

Cann already operates a facility at Kootingal, and the Australian Natural Therapeutic Group cultivates cannabis on a property near Armidale.

Tamworth mum Lucy Haslam successfully lobbied both Commonwealth and state governments to legalise the drug for medical use.

Mrs Haslam lost her son Daniel to terminal cancer in 2015, and spent years gathering signatures for petitions calling for change.

She is critical of current laws, which restrict access to the drug, which can be used for pain relief, and is used to treat a range of diseases including epilepsy, autism, central nervous system pain, palliative care, PTSD and some cancers.

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