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SpeakEasy wants to grow magic mushrooms

Published on May 6, 2021 by David Wylie

From cherries, to ginseng, to cannabis—and now to magic mushrooms?

Founded by a well-rooted Okanagan farming family, SpeakEasy has applied to enter the psychedelics sector. The Rock Creek, BC, company is working on getting its Narcotics Dealers Licence (NDL), with a focus on psilocybin.

“We are in a great position to be able to be at the forefront of the growing psilocybin market and also apply SpeakEasy’s farming knowledge to the production of magic mushrooms adding efficiency, high-quality production at an economical costs of production,” says founder Marc Geen.

The Geen family has been actively farming in the Okanagan for five generations, and is also known for its significant involvement in the iconic Okanagan brand, Sun-Rype.

SpeakEasy grew the world’s largest ever cannabis harvest last year.

“Commercial mushroom production is very similar to cannabis production, especially considering both are controlled substances and likely will fall under a similar set of regulations,” he says.

The cannabis company says it’s four months into a six-to-nine-month process to for a licence to develop and standardize psilocybin cultivation.

A section of SpeakEasy’s processing building has already been earmarked as the location for the research and development area.

SpeakEasy’s intent is to acquire a full catalogue of psilocybin bearing mushroom genetics in-order to develop cultivation methods, standardize potency and develop extracted concentrated products in preparation and with the expectation of the legalization of psilocybin in the Canadian market.

There is hope psilocybin can treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addictions.

It’s projected to be a nearly $7-billion industry by 2027.

If granted, an NDL licence would allow SpeakEasy to produce, assemble, sell, provide, transport, send, deliver, import or export a controlled drug (psilocybin) if they comply with the terms and conditions of their dealer’s licence and any permit issued under the licence.