Blake Ellis/The Independent

Australian cannabis producer Cannim wants to process cannabis at a Lasalle Line greenhouse.
The company, which has a license to grow at the former site of High Park Farms, dropped off a notice of cannabis license application to the township office July 25, according to Enniskillen Township Clerk-Administrator Duncan McTavish. The application asks Health Canada to approve the processing of cannabis at 4376 Lasalle Line.
The June 22 notice was written by William Worton, the Cannim Canada person responsible for the license, and is addressed to Mayor Kevin Marriott.
Worton states the company is the process of applying for an additional processing license under Health Canada’s cannabis regulations. “This application aims to expand the scope of our activities at our licensed site.”
Worton describes the current licensed activities at Cannim Canada as possessing cannabis as well as to dry, trim, mill and bulk package cannabis. The company is also allowed to sell and distribute cannabis.

This addition of the processing license will allow the company to package finished goods. The township was also told that there would be no alternations made to the facility, which would change the flow, emergency exits or building structure. All of Cannim Canada’s activities will be conducted at 4376 Lasalle Line.
McTavish says the municipality is currently involved with an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal regarding its revised cannabis policies and zoning regulations which would place limits on where new producers could set up shop. Until the appeal is heard and resolved, the township’s 2015 zoning bylaw remains in effect.
But, the request for processing at the plant goes against that 2015 zoning bylaw.
In Dec. 2019, council rejected a bid by High Park Farms to change the zoning to allow production of cannabis infused chocolate edibles. Planning officials at the time says it could be considered value added to agriculture and be allowable with a change of the bylaw. But neighbours of the facility who were already complaining about the strong odours and excess light at the greenhouse, were worried about extra traffic, noise and odour. Planners at the time said the production would not cause addition problems but council still rejected the plan.
McTavish notified Cannim Aug. 8 that the bylaw prohibits processing. So far there has been no further communication with Cannim.
McTavish told council he didn’t notify Health Canada, prompting Councillor Mary Lynne McCallum to suggest Health Canada should be aware that the processing of cannabis is not allowed. She also wanted Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey notified.
McTavish said he would notify Health Canada.
The Independent learned in November, Cannim Canada had a license to grow cannabis at the Lasalle Line property. Municipal leaders at the time were surprised by the approval even though a letter surfaced that the municipality had been notified months earlier.
The greenhouse owners issued a news release when the information surfaced saying they planned to grow mini cucumbers in the greenhouse. Greydanus didn’t respond to questions at the time about how Enniskillen Produce’s plan coincided with Cannim Canada’s effort to grow cannabis.
During Sarnia-Lambton’s Chamber of Commerce annual State of Lambton Business Breakfast in March, Marriott talked of Enniskillen Produce, which had planted seven acres of cucumbers with 25 jobs being created. Those first seven acres were expected to produce five million cucumbers with an additional six acres to be planted at the beginning of 2025. This will bring the operation to a total of 10 million cucumbers a year.
The greenhouse was previously home to cannabis producer, Tilray, which operated High Park Farm until 2021.
Neighbours Kathy and Trevor Brand fought the company for years, wanting the operation to better control the smell coming from the greenhouse due to the cannabis cultivation.
Worton is required to notify local authorities before the application is submitted. Cannim Canada is also required to inform the municipality if the additional license is granted.