Medicinal cannabis a boon for state

THE federal government has approved a giant medicinal cannabis glasshouse project in Queensland it predicts will funnel jobs and a billion dollars into the economy.

Canadian company Asterion Cannabis has been granted approval to build the facility in Toowoomba, capable of producing up to 20,000 plants for harvest per day.

Science Minister Karen Andrews says the fully-automated glasshouse, one of the largest in the world, will produce 500 tonnes of medicinal cannabis each year, with an export value of $1 billion. “The $450 million project will boost jobs across the Toowoomba region, and help position Australia as a major exporter of medicinal cannabis,” she said.

Ms Andrews said the trailblazing research facility would create more than 1000 jobs.