Warm Springs tribe breaks ground on marijuana grow facility

PORTLAND – The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has broken ground on a new marijuana-growing facility that is set to be Oregon’s first tribal-owned marijuana grow operation.

The construction work on the 36,000-square-foot greenhouse started Friday and is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The tribe plans to open three retail stores, with sales slated to begin in early 2017.

Tribal officials expect the project to create more than 80 jobs and generate about $11 million in the first year and $27 million by the fifth year of operation.

Members of the tribe had voted in December to approve the marijuana grow operation.

The tribe is working with Denver-based company Sentinel Strainwise to train employees and get the greenhouse up and running.