Casey Richardson
A new, life-changing psychedelic mushroom-growing facility opened at Princeton on Friday after Health Canada granted it a distributor license in February.
Optimi Health Corp. is a Canadian company that researches, develops and cultivates mushrooms that produce psilocybin and functional mushrooms. The company has been building its two adjacent 10,000-square-foot facilities since August 2020.
The opening ceremony and reception invited investors, stakeholders and Princeton residents to take a tour of the facility. Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne and British Conservative MP Crispin Blunt spoke in support of the facility.
Recently, companies have received approval from Health Canada to grow psychedelic mushrooms, make psilocybin, and sell the compound to drugmakers or doctors to give to patients.
Todd Henderson, head of cultivation at Optimi, said that as a Cree Heritage Metis, he was attracted to joining the company to continue working at a young age as part of his culture.
“Mushrooms have been part of our culture for hundreds of years, this is something I took early and just continued. I’m the next generation to do it, “he said.
“This is a natural medicine. They are creating drugs synthetically and giving them to people to do exactly what they can do. The potential of psilocybin has not been touched.”
Approval to provide the psychedelic compound that comes from magic mushrooms began after Health Canada launched a program in January that allows doctors to seek government approval for patients to access psilocybin.
Without this approval, the use of psilocybin is currently illegal.
“There has been medical curiosity, but also historical evidence of where it can make a big difference in anxiety, depression and PTSD. And a vital existentialism and addictions, I mean, used to be commonly used,” Bill said. Ciprick, CEO of Optimi.
There are still stigmas surrounding the use of psychedelics.
“That was why in the 1970s, the Nixon government enacted the Controlled Substances Act, which was then extended to 140 countries around the world. One part was justified, another was not justified. “And frankly, most of the bad press was with LSD,” Ciprick added.
“Psilocybin is the most studied psychedelic molecule right now in the world. And there are literally hundreds of tests being done, and closer.”
Ciprick said more results data and studies on psilocybin-producing mushrooms are needed to provide that level of comfort to introduce a larger market for the product.
Not only are psychedelic mushrooms grown, Optimi also has its hand in functional mushrooms that will go into their nutraceutical side.
“I’m excited to be the first to do that. I think it’s amazing that here in Princeton, BC. This is the pinnacle of this medicine coming true naturally,” Henderson said.
The team has focused on creating an environment that can be perfectly controlled for production.
Psilocybin mushrooms are targeted at clinical trials, pharmaceutical companies, and medical facilities.
“I’m excited that we’ve lowered our first harvest. It’s already been sold at Halucenex in Nova Scotia, we’re excited. We already have other deals on the books,” Henderson said.
“It’s one thing to put in an amazing installation, but then really focus on our first sale of the first batch of psilocybin mushrooms. I think for everyone, myself included, it was a very proud time,” Ciprick added. .
Optimi hopes to see other people get a chance to see the work they are doing and their commitment to being a natural producer of GMP psilocybin.
“I want people to be excited about natural medicine. Don’t be afraid of psilocybin, we don’t grow it here as a recreational drug, we grow it, GMP (good manufacturing practice) for use in medical practice.” said Henderson.
At its 10,000-square-foot facility, the production of natural GMP psilocybin for use by approved clinical trial entities and individuals with access granted by Health Canada will be provided through legal mechanisms such as the Health Program. special access and exemptions from Section 56 of the Controlled Substances and Drugs Act.