Company encouraged by medicinal and therapeutic regulatory developments in Costa Rica
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 30, 2022 — Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN) (“Optimi” or the “Company”), a Canadian-based company licensed by Health Canada to produce natural, scalable, and accessible psychedelic and functional mushrooms for transformational human experiences, is pleased to announce that it has entered into its first international psilocybin supply agreement with Promises Innovative Recovery (“PIR”).
Through founders Pamela and Gary Roberts, the renowned Florida-based Social Impact Organization provides expert substance abuse, addiction, and mental health services to treatment centers through its comprehensive and exceptional intensive outpatient protocol.
Further, PIR is a globally minded medical, research, and educational center focusing on preventative healthcare, precision medicine, and innovative treatments, including psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and plant-based therapeutics.
The Company, along with licensed cannabis producer Castle Rock Farms Inc., a Princeton, British Columbia-based subsidiary of BC Green Pharmaceuticals Inc. (‘BC Green’), will be collaborating with PIR and Knowde Group, Inc., a Global Contract Research Organization and Life Sciences Consultancy, on the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Costa Rica devoted to scientific research, therapeutic discovery, and advancing techniques in psychedelic-assisted mental health treatments utilizing both cannabis and psilocybin.
Following recent regulatory advancements in Costa Rica surrounding the medicalization of cannabis, Optimi is pleased to support PIR’s work with the Costa Rican government to establish a medicinal and therapeutic psychedelic research framework in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders.
“The need for a safe, consistent supply of psilocybin for scientific research and better health outcomes are not limited to Canada,” said Optimi Health CEO Bill Ciprick. “As we look to the international research and commercial landscape for psilocybin, we are now presented with the opportunity to both supply and participate in the establishment of a ground-breaking research center whose work will translate to very real, lived advancements in patient care.”
Bryan Safarik, Chief Operations Officer of BC Green, added that “the leadership of the Costa Rican government, and Promises Innovative Recovery, is an excellent chance for industry stakeholders to move forward in partnership and good faith with national health authorities. It is our sincere hope that this collaboration, beginning with research and medical tourism, will lead to a more complete regulatory framework for the widespread medicinal implementation of cannabis and psychedelic therapeutics.”
Promises Innovative Recovery Co-Founder, Gary Roberts, is meeting with Costa Rican officials and interested stakeholders this week to discuss the licensed framework.
“Our agreement with Optimi and BC Green instantly validates the quality and scale of supply required to support a future medicinal and therapeutic framework in Costa Rica,” said Roberts.
Roberts also lauded Optimi and BC Green’s expertise working within Health Canada’s Special Access Programme (SAP), a regulated model accessed by Canadians facing serious or life-threatening illnesses.
“We have an opportunity to build a clinically validated, compassionate access framework, much like the SAP model in Canada, that would put Costa Rica’s psychedelic medical tourism industry in a league of its own. Our strategic partners, Knowde Group, are leaders in this sector and will be providing the clinical and regulatory guidance to accomplish this. There are tremendous benefits in this space, and we are looking forward to exploring them together.”
Appointment of Chief Science Officer
Optimi is pleased to announce the appointment of Chief Science Officer, Mr. Justin Kirkland, to the PIR Medical & Clinical Advisory Board. Justin will join a team of leading experts in the development of treatment protocols, identify research priorities, and help form the broader group of advisors and on site medical team.
Authorized parties interested in purchasing or distributing Optimi psilocybin and functional mushroom products, MDMA, or other synthetic psychedelics are invited to contact sales@optimihealth.ca, where a member of the sales team will respond within 24 hours.
