Harvest, a national medical marijuana operator based in Arizona, has merged with Modern Flower, a local marijuana cultivator and leading wholesale cannabis supplier. The merger allows Harvest to become the largest medical marijuana operator in Arizona, with more dispensary licenses and cultivation facilities than any other medical marijuana operator in the state.

“Since we opened our first dispensary in Tempe four years ago, Harvest has grown, and we’ve done so in a manner that directly benefits patients,” said Steve White, CEO of Harvest. “This merger allows Harvest to meet the demand from an increasing number of seriously ill patients who are turning to medicinal cannabis to confront a variety of illnesses, from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease.”

A national model in the medical cannabis industry, Harvest is committed to helping qualified medical marijuana patients who suffer from cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. Harvest holds itself to the most stringent health, safety and quality standards in the industry when it comes to the growth, production and sale of cannabis medicines. Harvest’s offerings include cannabis flower and cannabis oil, along with Dream Steam vaporizer pens which promote the safe inhalation of medical cannabis.

The merger will bring six additional Arizona dispensary licenses to Harvest, as well as an 18,000-square-foot cultivation facility in Cottonwood, Ariz. Harvest currently operates dispensaries in Tempe and Scottsdale, along with a 12,000-square-foot indoor cultivation facility in Bellemont, Ariz., and a 35,000-square-foot facility and 3.3 acres of outdoor cultivation space in Camp Verde, Ariz. The latter site features a fully-automated greenhouse with a building management system that senses and stabilizes the environment, thereby increasing efficiency and efficacy.

As a result of this merger, Harvest’s total Arizona-based workforce is expected to grow to more than 200 employees by the end of 2017. In addition to rebranding Modern Flower’s cultivation facility in Cottonwood and dispensary facility in Lake Havasu under the Harvest banner, the company plans to open several new dispensaries, including another dispensary in Tempe, at Baseline Road and the I-10, which is anticipated to open in August. Additional Arizona dispensaries are also planned for Phoenix, Tucson, Tolleson, and Cottonwood.

“What I find particularly exciting about this merger is the growth of our Harvest team,” said White. “We have an incredibly-engaged group of team members who are passionately committed to the care of our patients. You can easily see that energy, that genuine desire to improve patients’ lives, in every aspect of our company, from our cultivation to our dispensaries. It’s something that truly differentiates Harvest, and we’re thrilled to be able to share it with more patients.”

“Harvest has a like-minded commitment to high-quality products, and a well-defined corporate and social mission,” said Jason Vedadi, Founder of Modern Flower, who will join the Harvest team as President, leading Harvest’s expansion initiative. “The merger means enhanced product offerings and more options for people seeking relief from battling painful medical conditions and debilitating diseases.”