Cannabis company Westleaf Inc. is partnering with Xabis, an industry leader in cannabis derivative product research and production.

Provided Health Canada issues the applicable licence for The Plant, Westleaf’s facility in southeast Calgary, the extraction and production facility under construction is expected to produce cannabis derivative products. Legalization of such products is expected later this year.

The facility would produce consumables, topicals and other cannabis-infused products, subject to and in compliance with provincial and federal regulations, said Westleaf.

Scott Hurd

“This partnership is another part of the execution on Westleaf’s strategy of becoming a significant vertically integrated player in the Canadian cannabis industry,” said Scott Hurd, president and CEO of Calgary-based Westleaf, in a statement.

“We believe a diversified offering of derivative cannabis products will account for a major shift in consumer demand once legal. We are positioning to formulate unique, high quality derivative products and bring in the best minds in the industry to help leverage our expertise in building and running these types of facilities.”

Xabis is a Colorado-based cannabis processing company that provides turnkey operations for companies in the mid-stream of the cannabis industry.  It’s an industry leader in design, construction, and management of cannabis extraction and manufacturing facilities, as well as product development.

“We are entirely focused on the plant-to-product portion of the value chain,” said Dale Zink, CEO of Xabis. “From the end of the grow to the final processed product shipping out to the retail store or dispensary, we apply our expertise to help companies create the industry’s best and most profitable processes and systems.”

The Plant includes an approximately 60,000-square-foot complex with Phase I (about 15,000 square feet) designed to include research and development, processing, extraction, manufacturing and order fulfilment. Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2019. It’s anticipated that the facility will be capable of producing the full suite of new derivative product lines in preparation of Health Canada’s anticipated legalization of such products, expected to occur on Oct. 17, said Westleaf.

Westleaf is rolling out its retail concept Prairie Records, with stores planned for British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and potentially Ontario.

“The retail concept leverages the instinctual tie between recreational cannabis and music and redefines the cannabis purchasing experience,” says Westleaf.

It also has two significant production facilities under construction and scheduled for completion in 2019 – the one in Calgary and another near Battleford, Sask.

Mario Toneguzzi is a Troy Media business reporter based in Calgary. He writes for Calgary’s Business.

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