By Rowan Dunne

British Columbia’s psychedelics and natural health products company Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) has been making significant progress toward achieving its international distribution goals.

This week, the company obtained a permit to send MDMA and psilocybin capsules to the non-profit charity organization Mind Medicine Australia. The drug developer has had a partnership with the outfit since early last year when they wrote up a distribution agreement. Australia’s charity in discussion legally dosed patients in the country with psychedelic drugs, outside of clinical trials, for the first time in over 50 years in January.

Australia’s Authorized Prescriber Scheme, which came into force last July, has enabled physicians to prescribe it to patients suffering from certain mental health conditions. The first legal psychedelic therapy clinic, run by Incannex Healthcare Inc (Nasdaq: IXHL), subsequently opened in early 2024. As of now, 10 authorized prescribers of psychedelic drugs operate within the nation.

“This initial export will fulfil early demand from authorized prescribers in Australia and is a significant milestone that our shareholders should take immense pride in,” Founder JJ Wilson said.

Optimi is currently preparing to send 160 doses of the drugs to start with and has not specified when they will be shipped.

“We are excited to be on this journey with Optimi of helping Australians suffering from major mental illnesses gain access to these transformative therapies,” Mind Medicine Australia’s Chair Peter Hunt said.

Health Canada provided Optimi with an export permit for MDMA shipments to Tel Aviv University earlier this month as well. The Israeli school’s Institute for Psychedelic Research will use the drug for studies aimed at treating alcohol use disorder.

Full story here.