Jeff Snyder, CEO of TruVo Health Care, Allentown, told those gathered at the Lynnport Fire Company his co-speaker Bruce Nicholson, M.D. is familiar with the medical use of marijuana.

Snyder was the former CEO of Pocono Health Network, East Stroudsburg.

Nicholson, a pain management specialist, is a member of Lehigh Valley Physicians Group.

The two, plus Tom Haffly, a cultivation expert, told the gathering about the company’s plans to grow medical marijuana at the former Blue Mountain Nursery, Lynn Township.

Some 40 people attended the Feb. 2 town hall.

Snyder said Nicholson had a chance to see many new treatments in medicine.

“This [cannabis] is a turning point,” Snyder said. “It has been a groundswell growing over the last 20 years.

“Early on it was used to treat seizures and sleep disorders but was made illegal in the early ’40s.

“Since then, a tremendous amount of research has been done with a tremendous number of benefits found.

“There are 17 conditions in which it can be used but is not presently available.”

Haffly has a horticultural background beginning on Donat’s Peak growing food.

He has also worked for DuPont where there were a couple hundred feet of greenhouses, and then in New York.

The TruVo Health Care security team is headed by a person with 25 years of military expertise in security, Snyder said.

Growing cannabis is heavily regulated, he explained. Medical marijuana was approved April 17, 2016, in Pennsylvania.

A portion of operations will be committed to research.

“Our team continues to grow and at the end of the day this is healthcare,” Snyder said. “We want to automate everything which makes it easier to avoid contaminants.

“The facility will be environmentally sound with a policy of reuse, not putting pesticides into the ground.”

Lynn Township resident Greg Snyder asked how big the buildings would be.

Nicholson said two greenhouses will be replaced because they are the wrong kind. Solid walls are required but he would like a glass roof to allow natural lighting.

He added the facility would look like a pole barn.

“It will be very secure with 24-hour surveillance cameras,” he explained. “It will cover 25,000 square fee, if it reaches its planned potential. It will start with three dispensaries and expand.

Snyder said in terms of jobs there will be 40 positions which will grow to 60 to 80 jobs within three years.

“There will be a living wage and retirement fund,” he said.

Snyder said they should be able to provide the product less expensively than other growers. He realizes there is a sensitivity to health care costs.

One of the fears is big farmers may replace other crops with cannabis.

Lynn Township Supervisor Justin Smith asked where they were in the process.

He was told the licensing application will be accepted by the state Department of Health on Feb. 20 and will take 60-90 days to return.

Snyder said they award licenses by a point system and he thinks their score will be very high.

Smith pointed out marijuana is still illegal federally though that is not enforced but a license can be revoked at any time.

“You are at risk,” Smith said.

“It’s hard to say what is going to happen under President Donald Trump, but we have to move forward,” Snyder said.

Snyder was asked about recreational use.

”There is no place for that,” he replied. “Within six months we will be required to have the first crop.

“Everything is tracked from seed to patient.

He was asked how they can get the building up in the time frame.

Snyder replied that they can start the crop but not take it to the flowering stage before the building is complete.

Nicholson said they have a plan ready to go within the six months time frame.

Darryl Shafer asked if it can be permitted by the township.

Snyder said it is commercial agriculture and has to be allowed but it is more of a community decision.

Smith said the township can control where it happens.

Greg Snyder said Chris Noll, township zoning officer, told him medical cannabis is like any other plant.

“It is a permitted use. Lynn must accept it somewhere. There will be no need to adjust the zoning ordinance.

Haffly said just to get in the building a person has to do a fingerprint scan twice and again when going into another part of the building.

Uniforms without pockets must be worn so no product cannot be carried out.

“Security is a big deal,” he said.

Smith asked about processing.

Snyder said it is supercritical.

“All oil is separated under pressure,” Snyder said. “The plant can be separated into various components. It allows use of a nebulizer and can be delivered more controllable than by smoking.”

There will be no edibles but people can buy the oil and make there own edibles.

There will be a Knox box for emergency entry. These can be opened by the fire company.

Supervisor Brian Dietrich asked about transportation.

Haffly said there are no armored vehicles but armed guards are in vehicles with the product carried in a vault.

Dietrich asked who would monitor the cameras.

He was told they will be monitored 24-hours a day and occasionally the state will “just pop in.”

If a plant dies it must be weighed. Each one is tagged. When dry, it has to be weighed again. It can be ground up and mixed with 50 percent inert material and then it is placed in a Dumpster.

“I’m impressed by the turnout. There may be more meetings,” said Snyder.