Shangri-La Farms proposes 50,000-plant cultivation facility in Smyrna, Delaware

Large-scale grow operation seeks approval as Delaware's adult-use market matures beyond early-stage sales figures.

FILE — cultivation · Cannabis Tours / CC BY-SA 4.0

Shangri-La Farms has proposed a 50,000-plant cannabis cultivation facility in Smyrna, Delaware, according to reporting from Delaware Business Times. The proposal arrives as the state's adult-use market expands infrastructure: Delaware currently operates 18 licensed cultivation sites, 17 retail locations, and 11 manufacturing facilities, per state records current as of late August.

The timing reflects broader market momentum. Delaware generated $8 million in cannabis tax revenue in its first year of adult-use sales, and the state marijuana commissioner has actively engaged industry stakeholders in recent months. However, the market has faced headwinds—early sales growth was characterized as slow, and at least one operator, Cannabist Co., exited and filed for bankruptcy in March.

Approval would require navigating zoning and licensing hurdles. Notably, state lawmakers have debated marijuana siting restrictions and overrode a gubernatorial veto on zoning in January, signaling ongoing regulatory flux. Watch whether Shangri-La's application advances through licensing and whether it faces opposition related to facility density in Smyrna.