AUBURN, Maine - The city of Auburn has given the go-ahead for a major expansion of a medical marijuana growing facility that would increase the size of the building four-fold.
The Sun Journal reports that construction at Wellness Connection of Maine's growing facility is planned in several phases. The $2.5 million first phase is expected to break ground shortly and open in the fall.
Once finished, the building will expand from 20,000 square feet to almost 88,000 square feet, mostly to provide additional areas for growing and processing.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Maine since 1999, but the state only set up a system to sell it after a referendum vote in 2009.
Maine's eight licensed dispensaries reported more than $16.2 million in sales last year, up from $12.5 million in 2013.