According to a police summary of facts, officers searched Young's storage unit in Ngapuna three times in September and October last year.
It was apparent the unit had been set up as a clandestine processing area for the mixing, packaging and sale and supply of synthetic products, the summary stated.
In total 60.3kg of the drug with a street value of between $904,000 and $1.2million was found.
On the same day, Young's shop, his home in Tikitere, and his car were searched. Police found $1073 on him, $69,060 in the office safe, $2440 in the workshop safe and $1400 in an office drawer.
Further synthetic plant material and money was found in his home and car. The total amount of cash seized was $181,403.
Defence lawyer Martin Hine said since Young had been in custody he had attended group drug and alcohol counselling sessions, despite not having a substance addiction.
"He has found it enlightening and insightful the stories from people who were users of synthetic cannabis. It's been a steep learning curve for him," he said.
"He really is taking his position very, very seriously and has endeavoured to get insight into what he has been involved in."
Mr Hine said his client's offending transpired from having leftover product at Skingraft, which sold synthetic cannabis when it was legal.
Young had hoped the ban on psychoactive substances was a "passing phase", Mr Hine said.
However, Crown solicitor Amanda Gordon said she did not accept that, because police found new drug products being produced and material that had never been legal.
Judge Phillip Cooper said the offending was a "significant commercial enterprise".
"The synthetic cannabis operation included mixing, packaging and the wholesale and retail of synthetic cannabis in very large quantities, with very high returns."
He said the matter of forfeiture of money made would be left to the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Young had no previous convictions.
