“Alaska is unique because we never really had a good, functioning medical marijuana system that’s worked here,” says James Barrett.
Berkeley, CA (PRWEB) December 29, 2014
Brothers James and Giono Barrett have for years had a dream to be the purveyors of quality marijuana for the community of Sitka, Alaska. And now, since the passing of Ballot Measure 2 in November, which legalized cannabis for recreational sale in that state, that dream has not only become a reality; it’s become a reality TV show as well.
The focus of the new reality show, “Get Growing Alaska,” will document the Barretts as they navigate the trials and tribulations of expanding their relatively small marijuana grow business into a large-scale manufacturing site under the wild backdrop of an Alaskan frontier town.
In an interview with Cannabis Now Magazine, slated to be featured on an episode of “Get Growing Alaska,” the partners discuss their first steps to acquire a 5,000 square foot production facility and be a main supplier of marijuana for the whole state of Alaska.
The Barretts, who hail from Minnesota farm country and moved to Alaska in 2008, say they initially got into growing the plant because of the lack of good marijuana available in the area.
“Good cannabis is really hard to find in Alaska,” says Giono Barrett, co-founder of Rainforest Farms. “The herb I was finding was really musky. So we started growing for ourselves and we realized how much we enjoyed it.”
With other Alaska-centric shows like “The Deadliest Catch” and “Alaska: The Last Frontier” gaining wide popularity amongst viewers, the show’s producers are excited about their potential audience. Filmmakers, Inc. – the company producing “Get Growing Alaska” – has put Spike TV and National Geographic high on the list of prospective networks they’d like to acquire the show.
Filmmakers, Inc. founder Thomas Oliver, who currently also produces “Coast Guard Alaska,” says he was drawn to the story of the Barretts’ marijuana grow business because of their passion for marijuana cultivation and the increasing acceptance of cannabis nationwide.
“They have a passion for growing marijuana that really shows,” says Oliver in an interview with Cannabis Now Magazine. “Also, the concept is timely with so much cannabis reform happening across the nation and, of course, the recent Alaska ballot measure passing.”
The Barretts have their work cut out for them, as the marijuana industry went from almost non-existent in Alaska to fully legal in a short period of time.
“Alaska is unique because we never really had a good, functioning medical marijuana system that’s worked here,” says James Barrett. “So we’re really jumping into a full commerce situation with cannabis that has never existed here before. This documentation is really about the whole process.”
To read more about “Get Growing Alaska” and the Barrett brothers, look for the upcoming story in the next issue of Cannabis Now Magazine out this month.