Vacant Factory Could House Hemp

The Lesley Iron Works building in West Pawlet, Vt., could be turned into a medical marijuana and hemp plant.

Marijuana plants at the Ataraxia medical marijuana cultivation center in Albion, Ill.
Marijuana plants at the Ataraxia medical marijuana cultivation center in Albion, Ill.
Associated Press/Seth Perlman, File

An old industrial building in southwestern Vermont could be turned into a medical marijuana and hemp processing plant.

The Rutland Herald reports that Castleton resident Anthony Traficanti has proposed the project in West Pawlet.

Town officials say they are trying to transform the vacant Lesley Iron Works building into useful space.

Zoning Administrator Hal Wilkins says Traficanti indicated he would need about six employees. Wilkins says the facility would benefit farmers and have significantly less of an impact than the iron operation, which generated heavy traffic and noise.

He says the town has issued an "OK" for the sewer and wastewater discharge and is seeking comments from schools. But not everyone approves. Resident Dorothy Brace is against it and Dimitar Atanasov says he needs more information before signing off.

More in Processing