Business leaders, healthcare professionals, and elected officials convened at Southern Crop on 49th Avenue on Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the medical marijuana cultivator’s new facility in Meridian. The event also highlighted the company’s vision for the evolving medicinal cannabis landscape in Mississippi.
Commitment to Medicinal Quality
Southern Crop Co-Founder and CEO Randy J. Mire, a pharmacist by training, emphasized his goal to deliver a truly medicinal product. He underscored the importance of adhering to stringent cleaning protocols and processing standards to ensure that both the facility and the products meet medicinal-grade requirements.
“We believe that marijuana has the potential to improve the lives of many people in our state, and we’re committed to working with our community partners to ensure that marijuana is distributed safely and responsibly,” Mire stated.
Innovative Facilities and Technology
The state-of-the-art facility spans 175,000 square feet and was the first to secure cultivation and processing licenses from the Mississippi Department of Health. According to Mire, the company has made significant investments in security, regulation, and processing capabilities.
Notably, Southern Crop is one of the few facilities in the U.S. equipped with an ENTEX machine, which extracts medicinal cannabinoids from marijuana plants. This technology allows the company to produce solutions for various products, including gummy candies, cookies, and vaping oils. Mire remarked, “Very few people have this, and it allows us to give a strong, potent product.” He noted that there are fewer than ten ENTEX machines in operation across the United States, with Southern Crop’s being the only one in Mississippi.
Additionally, Southern Crop has invested in a soft-gel capsule machine to cater to patient preferences for pill form medication. This machine encapsulates distilled cannabinoids in gel caps similar to over-the-counter medicine, solidifying the company’s commitment to diverse delivery methods.
Focus on Standardization
Robert Naudin, Chief Strategy Officer for Southern Crop, highlighted the company’s dedication to product uniformity amid a landscape lacking standardization. He noted that inconsistencies can confuse customers regarding cannabinoid concentrations in products. “When customers pick up a Southern Crop product, they can be sure the dosage is the same throughout,” Naudin explained.
So far, Southern Crop has harvested two crops of medical marijuana and a third is nearing maturity. The company is finalizing various aspects of processing before products can be distributed to dispensaries.
Future Developments and Community Engagement
Once fully operational, Southern Crop plans to establish its own line of dispensaries under the retail brand SOAR. The company is also forming partnerships with over 20 dispensaries statewide for licensing its different product brands, which include Flight, Beyond, and SoCrop.
Mire expressed gratitude to state and local officials, business leaders, and partners who played a pivotal role in establishing Southern Crop. He acknowledged ongoing challenges within the medical marijuana program but remains optimistic about its potential to provide significant benefits to the people of Mississippi.
