Terrapin Care Station: Medical Marijuana Growing Underway

SOUTH AVIS – It was three weeks ago that the state Health Department gave the okay to Terrapin Care Station to begin growing marijuana plants. State officials learned first-hand this week the process is well underway. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and DEP regional director Marcus Kohl made a stop at the facility still under construction on Harris Street in South Avis, Pine Creek Township.

The Wednesday visitors saw Jason “Bubba” Rochevot, a Terrapin grower checking on the plants that will ultimately become the first batch of medical marijuana from the new site. Rochevot led Wednesday’s brief tour that also included a stop at First Quality Tissue in Castanea Township.

Rochevot is among the first few employees at the facility. Ultimately some 30 to 50 jobs are to be provided as construction is completed and the process moves through all of its seed-to-sale steps.
The Terrapin operation is the third of 12 licensed in the state to become operational as Pennsylvania moves to have its medical marijuana program fully implemented by next year. The state program became effective on May 17, 2016, and will offer medical marijuana to Pennsylvanians under a practitioner’s care for the treatment of some serious medical conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis.