Maryland Cannabis Grower Triples in Size
January 15, 2021 
SunMed Growers, a licensed cannabis grower in Maryland, recently tripled the size of its Cecil County greenhouse with an $18 million expansion, according to an article in the Baltimore Sun.
The company expanded its Warwick facility to 250,000 square feet and expects to produce 600 pounds of dried and cured sun-grown medical cannabis each week. SunMed Growers uses state-of-the-art technology in material handling, lighting, and climate control.
“The need for holistic and organic treatment alternatives in Maryland has been clear from the day we opened the doors to our original greenhouse,” says owner Jake Van Wingerden, who started expanding in summer 2019 and has seen an increase in demand from patients.
Greenhouse Grower checked in with Van Wingerden to learn more about the project.
What was the primary reason for the expansion?
Market demand. The Maryland marketplace has doubled over the past year and demand for our products is very high.
Is the upgraded facility ready to go?
Yes, we put the first plants in the first week of November and the first harvests started last week.
Were there any big lessons you learned along the way?
Budget 30% more money and time than your first estimate. COVID-19 has made construction take longer and more expensive.
Any future projects planned?
Phase 3 is on the drawing boards that would double our facility. We’ll hopefully start it in a couple of years after we pay down some debt.
On a very general level, what is the most critical issue/topic affecting your company as you move into 2021, and why?
Banking and taxes. The federal government needs to pass the SAFE Banking Act which would give our industry access to traditional business banking and lending. They also need to fix the 280E tax provision that unfairly penalizes our business with crippling tax rates. These provisions hurt small businesses the most, and give unfair advantages to the largest public corporations in the industry.
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