Optimi Health Applauds Health Canada's Position on Drug Quality and Goods and Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Psilocybin

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN) ("Optimi" or the "Company") CEO, Bill Ciprick, issued a statement today in response to Health Canada's May 6 Notice to Stakeholders "regarding the proposed use of psilocybin mushrooms in clinical trials, or as a drug accessed through the Special Access Program (SAP)."

Ciprick says the Notice published by Health Canada's Office of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Controlled Substances Directorate was welcomed by Optimi, specifically around the "importance of drug quality and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)."

As a tier one ingredient provider and product leader, Optimi's operational footprint includes 20,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, technologically advanced aeroponics facilities dedicated to the cultivation of EU-GMP grade psilocybin and functional mushrooms.

While the Company is uniquely positioned to be a world leader in the cultivation and supply of natural, scalable, and accessible psilocybin, Ciprick believes Health Canada's message is one that benefits every industry supplier.

"Health Canada's message sets the right tone, right standard, and right policy when it comes to building a sustainable industry backed by hard, evidence-based, science-driven clinical research that is paramount to the health and wellbeing of Canadians," said Ciprick.

He added:

"Over the last year, Optimi has embarked on a transformational journey that has seen our company become a world leader in the supply of natural, EU-GMP grade psilocybin and functional mushrooms. Every member of our team shares our commitment to making possible a future whereby natural psychedelic alternatives aid in the treatment of a wide variety of addictions and mental health conditions.

From Optimi's founders to the hardworking employees cultivating our supply, we have always believed that the surest path to a regulated safe supply of medical psilocybin in Canada lies in the standards of a fully licensed, GMP facility.

For these reasons, Optimi applauds and endorses Health Canada's announcement and will continue to invest in the future of natural psychedelic alternatives and solutions that pioneer the future of addictions and mental health."

Last week, the Company announced that a requested Amendment to its Controlled Substances Dealer's Licence had been granted by Health Canada, permitting it to possess a quota of up to 5,000kg of dried psilocybin mushrooms - the equivalent of 10kg of psilocybin - and 100g of psilocin.

On May 27, the Company will be welcoming guests and dignitaries from the psychedelic business space, the medical and public health fields, local and national politics, and the Indigenous community for a grand opening event and reception to inaugurate its Princeton, BC facility.

ABOUT OPTIMI (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN)

Optimi Health is a homegrown, Canadian success story producing and supplying natural, EU-GMP grade psilocybin and functional mushrooms that focus on the health and wellness markets. Built with the purpose to produce scalable, natural mushroom formulations for transformational human experiences, the Company's goal is to be the number one trusted, compassionate supplier of safe, natural GMP grade psilocybin across the world. With a vertically integrated approach, Optimi intends to cultivate, extract, process and distribute high quality functional and psychedelic mushroom products at its two facilities comprising a total of 20,000 square feet in Princeton, British Columbia.

To fully investigate the science of mushrooms, the Company has received a research exemption under Health Canada Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) for the use of Psilocybin and Psilocin for scientific purposes via its wholly owned subsidiary Optimi Labs Inc. Optimi has also been granted a dealer's license under Canada's Narcotic Control Regulations governing possession, distribution, sale, laboratory analysis of and research and development of Psilocybin and Psilocin formulations. Optimi is committed to expert cultivation and quality production subject to and in accordance with the terms of all applicable laws and governing regulations to ensure safe, superior Canadian fungi production.

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