[PRESS RELEASE] – MEDFORD, Ore., June 16, 2026 – Grown Rogue International Inc., a flower-forward cannabis company combining craft values with disciplined execution, announced that Grown Rogue's Illinois partner, SEA Craft LLC, the license holder for the Dwight, Ill., facility, received approval from Illinois to restart cultivation operations at the facility on June 5, 2026.
Following approval, SEA Craft began cultivation operations at the Dwight facility. SEA Craft's initial launch plan includes four flower rooms totaling up to the initial regulatory limit of 5,000 square feet of flowering canopy, with the first harvest anticipated in September and initial sales expected to commence in Q4 2026. SEA Craft also intends to pursue imminent activation of the facility's manufacturing and extraction space, subject to applicable regulatory approvals.
"This approval moves our Illinois strategy from planning into execution and helps remove one of the principal upfront risks in cannabis expansion projects: delayed regulatory timing," Grown Rogue CEO Obie Strickler said. "We are grateful for the support from the Village of Dwight and its community as this facility begins its next chapter with our operational support. Illinois is a market we have targeted for years, and with SEA Craft we found a capital-efficient path to bring Grown Rogue's flower-forward products to consumers in the state."
SEA Craft founder Shari Wilson said, "We appreciate the constructive engagement and timely review from the Illinois Department of Agriculture as SEA Craft works to restart operations at the Dwight facility. This approval is an important step in bringing the facility back online, supporting local employment and advancing a disciplined launch plan for the Illinois market."
As part of the restart, SEA Craft has made several key local hires and expects to continue building its Dwight-based team as operations ramp over the coming months. SEA Craft anticipates adding approximately 60 to 70 positions over the next six to nine months, including roles across cultivation, production, compliance, facility operations and administration.
Where possible, SEA Craft is prioritizing experienced local talent, including individuals with prior experience at the Dwight facility, to support an efficient restart while contributing to local employment in the community. To date, SEA Craft has rehired 10 former team members from the previous operator of the facility, PharmaCann, with several more offers outstanding.
SEA Craft intends to submit a request to expand flowering canopy from 5,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet as soon as practicable, potentially accelerated by pending legislation, consistent with the facility's prior operation at approximately 10,000 square feet of indoor flowering canopy. Longer term, the facility can support the maximum permitted 14,000 square feet of indoor flowering canopy with modest additional investment, which Grown Rogue expects to evaluate based on overall market demand.
The Dwight facility provides Grown Rogue with an attractive entry point into Illinois, supported by existing infrastructure, dedicated manufacturing space and a measured ramp plan. SEA Craft expects to submit a manufacturing plan to Illinois regulators shortly, which would support a broader product platform at the facility, including infused pre-rolls and Grown Rogue's cured-resin vape products, which are currently available only in Oregon.
