Atholville anxious for medical marijuana plant to be approved

A medical marijuana plant planned forAtholvillehasstalled, along with the estimated 400 jobs it was expected to create for the hard-hit northern New Brunswick village over several years.

Zenabisis still waiting for approval fromHealth Canada and Mayor Michel Soucy wants to know why.

"We need some quick answers," he said. "It's important for the Village of Atholville and the whole area because of job creation. Job creation is very important for us, and we're backing the company in this," he said.

A spokesperson for Health Canada says the agency has received more than 1,000 applications from potential producers, and almost half were incomplete, refused, or withdrawn.

So far, only 22 licences have been issued.

How long it takes to get a licence varies,depending on security checks, the quality of the applicationand the readiness of applicants, the spokesperson said.

When International Herbs Medical Marijuana bought the old 400,000-square-foot Atlantic Yarns warehouse in March, the B.C.-based company expected to be producing product by now.

About 1,400 people from Grand Falls to the AcadianPeninsula have applied to work at the plant, according to theRestigouche Community Business Development Corporation, which has been recruiting for the company.

But the Zenabis parking lot remains empty.

"We might have a rally," said Rgis Maltais, president of theCampbellton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

"I'm going tomeet with all the mayors and get the community together. I think if we join forces, it will go through, but if we just lay back and wait until things happen, it doesn't seem like it's gonna happen."