CORNWALL ISLAND – The first phase of retrofit construction has begun on what will be home to Seven Leaf, a developing Mohawk owned and soon-to-be operating medical cannabis company.

Seven Leaf said in a press release that, with a multi-million dollar investment, it is nearing completion of the extensive multi-stage process to obtain a federal license from Health Canada to produce medical cannabis under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR).

Seven Leaf aims to receive their license to produce in the first quarter of 2018, and will create 75-100 new jobs, the press release said.

The executive team, Lewis Mitchell, Lorraine White, and Micheal “Gus” Pyke -- all Akwesasne Mohawks -- began developing Seven Leaf in May 2014.

Seven Leaf President Lewis Mitchell is a 23-year veteran of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police service, and served as Chief of Police.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to provide medical cannabis relief to First Nations people and Canadians battling a range of conditions,” said Mitchell. “The journey to get to the point of commencing with construction has taken years of work. We are energized to see the company come to life with active construction and look forward to bringing competitive paying jobs to Akwesasne in the near future.”

Mitchell believes a solidly regulated system will reduce criminal activity, reduce the burden on police and courts, and prohibit youth access. Seven Leaf’s legal medical cannabis company will also diversify the economy and generate significant revenue sharing with First Nations governments benefitting health, education, social service, and cultural programs.

In law enforcement, Mitchell witnessed numerous cases of illicit drug abuse and saw firsthand the dangers of black market-laced substances. Mitchell is now dedicated to fighting the chronic pain and suffering he has seen in his community and in other First Nations, by providing relief with the therapeutic effect of medical cannabis.

Lorraine White, chief compliance officer and chief legal counsel, presided over her private practice for over 20 years and in 2005 was the youngest female elected to serve as chief for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

“Seven Leaf has been working arduously for years now, adhering to every letter of the law, following strict standards for a fully compliant, legally licensed medical cannabis company,” said White. “There have been a million hoops to jump through and a maze of rules and regulations, so it is with relief and excitement that we take this giant step forward as we enter this burgeoning new industry. Seven Leaf will deliver an undeniable boost to the economy.”

Michael “Gus” Pyke has spent his career as a trusted pharmacist for the Akweasasne community. His intimate knowledge of traditional pharmaceuticals has led him to understand the benefits of the natural pain relieving properties of medical cannabis as an alternative to harsher, more addictive opioid treatments. Pyke will support the quality assurance team as the assistant director of quality assurance.

Seven Leaf has acquired a 46,000 sq. ft. former water bottling plant on Cornwall Island. Contractors have begun work to retrofit the plant which will serve as the location for production of medical cannabis.

Seven Leaf anticipates receipt of a license to grow medicinal cannabis upon meeting Health Canada requirements that include proof of readily available physical space, necessary security, record-keeping protocols, and a variety of other requirements.

The facility will have extensive full-time interior and exterior security protection measures that monitor every segment of the property, according to a press release from Seven Leaf.