The operators of Humboldt's budding medical cannabis facility have a personal attachment to the plant.

Alexander Calkins' father has developed symptoms of CTE as a result of high impact sports in his youth, and medical cannabis has been recommended as the safest treatment.

"So medical cannabis has a very personal response in my family because this will be geared directly toward making a better lifestyle for my dad," Calkins said.

Humboldt council on Monday approved a discretionary use application for the Calkins family business, Cannadabis Medical Inc., to build and operate a medical marijuana grow operation at 1720 3rd Ave.

A report to council from planning coordinator Anthony Andre noted only one public response to the application, a neighboring business owner concerned about security and a possible increase in thefts in the area, as well as odour and lowered property values. Yorkton administration reported that a grow-op in operation there for six months has not been subject to any odour complaints, and there have been no known security incidents, Andre's report said. 

Security measures at Cannadabis will include a 10 to 12-foot fence and security guards on site 24 hours per day, Calkins told council. They're also planning to achieve the Good Manufacturing Practice certification.

Calkins and his parents, who recently retired from selling homes, picked Humboldt partly because the city already includes medical grow ops in its zoning bylaw, he said.

"it just makes sense to approach somebody that's already set up with the regulations in place for our certain type of business."

Humboldt also reminds them of their hometown of Lacombe, Alberta. The communities share the values of hard work and sacrifice, Calkins said.

"We really believe that a Humboldt-sized community is exactly where we want to be. It feels like the communities that we left behind in Alberta."

Calkins' background is in petroleum engineering, which will be helpful as the company expands to producing cannabis oil, he said.

The business is expected to be up and running about a year and a half after the lot is cleared, he said.

"We just really hope that Humboldt is as excited that we're coming as we are."