EMEnRose Magazine

PA Options for Wellness ("PA Options for Wellness", DBA "Vytal Options" or the "Company"), a leading provider of medical cannabis products in the Pennsylvania medical cannabis market, announced today the opening of two new medical marijuana dispensaries, bringing their retail footprint to a total of six locations throughout Pennsylvania.

The first of the two new dispensaries to open will be Kennett Square, located at 716 West Baltimore Pike in Delaware County, PA. The Kennett Square location will open to patients on Monday, Oct. 17. The second location, located in State College, at 1653 North Atherton Street, will open to patients on Monday, Oct. 31. Both locations will feature on-site consultations, curbside delivery and an interactive pre-order menu with each dispensary open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"Vytal Options, a PA Options for Wellness medical marijuana dispensary, is excited to bring our excellent patient service as well as quality products to the State College and Kennett Square areas," CEO and founder Thomas A. Trite said in a statement. "We were one of the first three medical marijuana Clinical Registrants approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to conduct research. After undergoing an extensive review process, we were selected by Penn State University and their College of Medicine to collaborate and research medical marijuana."

To celebrate the grand openings, each location will kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. ET, with members of the Chamber of Business, Penn State Research, and Balanced Veterans Network. A partnership with grower/processer FarmaceuticalRX has also been developed to support the dispensary openings.  A proprietary strain "Keystone OG" was created with the processing team at FarmaceuticalRX along with members of Vytal Options marketing and product development teams. The first 100 patients at each location will receive an exclusive, limited edition "Keystone OG" t-shirt to celebrate the collaboration. In addition, many of the state's top Medical Marijuana Grower Processers will be on hand at both locations, educating patients and handing out promotional materials. In addition, PA Options for Wellness will commemorate its latest dispensary openings by making a charitable contribution to organizations within the State College and Kennett Square communities.

PA Options for Wellness proudly offers a curated selection of products across it's brand portfolio, which includes byVytal, Mood, and Solventless. Patients can choose from a wide array of premium cannabis products, including full-spectrum RSO, access to a library of flower strains, solventless rosins, and their signature Troche sublingual. Vytal Options dispensaries will also offer top products from other highly requested brands in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana marketplace.

"Pennsylvania has become one of the fastest growing medical markets in the nation and we are proud to be able to widen access to patients across the state," said Thomas A. Trite, Chief Executive Officer of PA Options for Wellness. "PA Options for Wellness will bring top-quality, innovative products to the medical market, meeting the demand of our patients while adhering to strict ethical standards. Providing therapeutic solutions, we focus on combining plant science and medicine to transform the lives of our patients."  

In addition to PA Options for Wellness' newest dispensary locations, the Company currently serves patients in the following areas: Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lansdale, and the Lehigh Valley.

About PA Options for Wellness

PA Options for Wellness was founded by Thomas A. Trite, PD, FASCP, in 2014 with the goal of creating a premier medical cannabis service model and becoming the leader in the emerging medical cannabis industry and cannabis research.

Headquartered in Harrisburg, PA Options for Wellness' mission is to be the preferred provider of medical cannabis to qualified, approved patients through high-quality products, and dignified, professional service. The company is focused on research, patient outcomes and quality of life.

PA Options for Wellness is proud to have been awarded one of the first Pennsylvania Clinical Registrant licenses in June 2019 in collaboration with the Penn State College of Medicine. PA Options for Wellness also has a 65,000-square-foot grow/process facility that includes lab space and is located in Duncannon, Perry County.

PA Options for Wellness will bring top-quality, innovative products to the medical market, meeting the demand of our patients while adhering to strict ethical standards. Providing therapeutic solutions, we focus on combining plant science and medicine to transform the lives of our patients.

Media Inquires:
Samantha A. Alderfer
Director of Marketing & Business Development
PA Options for Wellness, Inc.
[email protected]
717-418-4362

Gb Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB:GBLX), a leading plant-inspired, biopharmaceutical research and drug development company, has co-published a study in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology that demonstrates the efficacy of its proprietary cannabinoid-containing, minimum essential mixtures (MEM) for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). There is a great clinical need for improved therapeutics, and the market for Parkinson's disease treatments is expected to grow to $8.8 billion by 2026.

"Our drug discovery process has identified promising ratio-controlled mixtures of cannabis-inspired compounds for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, which have proven effective at reducing Parkinsonian motor symptoms in an animal model of the disease," said Dr. Andrea Small Howard, President, Chief Science Officer, and Director of Gb Sciences. "This study allows us to continue addressing unmet clinical needs through the development of novel plant-inspired drugs, and positions Gb Sciences as a contributor to the expanding world of novel PD therapeutics."

For this Gb Sciences-sponsored study, the discovery research using cell models of Parkinson's disease was performed at Chaminade University (Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA), and the MEM refinement and validation research was performed in a zebrafish model of Parkinson's disease at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The study entitled "Identification of minimum essential therapeutic mixtures from Cannabis plant extracts by screening in cell and animal models of Parkinson's disease" was co-authored by Gb Sciences' own President and Chief Science Officer Andrea Small-Howard and her collaborators Michael G. Morash, Jessica Nixon, and Lee Ellis from the National Research Council of Canada; Lori M.N. Shimoda and Helen Turner from Chaminade University of Honolulu; and Alexander J. Stokes from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (Manoa, Hawai'i, USA).

The sequentially reductionist process implemented in this multi-site study preserves some of the entourage-like effects of whole plant extracts while achieving "relative" simplicity within MEM that is a requirement for obtaining the manufacturing and quality control advantages of single-ingredient drugs. This paper identifies promising minimal essential mixtures of cannabinoids based on a step-wise, strategic approach to reducing the complexity of the plant secondary metabolome. The sequential use of in silico, in vitro, and medium throughput in vivo experimental systems has generated refined, de-risked mixtures that can now be tested in additional, higher-cost, preclinical model systems of PD.

Gb Sciences' Parkinson's therapeutics are currently being tested in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease at the University of Lethbridge, and these Parkinson's MEM have been formulated as Oral Dissolving Tablets in preparation for human clinical trials. The Company is preparing for the final rounds of toxicology and pharmacology testing as required for filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

To learn more about Gb Sciences, visit www.gbsciences.com.

About Gb Sciences and GbS Global Biopharma

Gb Sciences, Inc. is a plant-inspired, biopharmaceutical research and development company creating patented, disease-targeted formulations of cannabis- and other plant-inspired therapeutic mixtures for the prescription drug market through its Canadian subsidiary GbS Global Biopharma, Inc. The "plant-inspired" active ingredients in its therapeutic mixtures are synthetic homologues identical to the original plant compounds but produced under current Good Manufacturing Practices. Gb Sciences' intellectual property portfolio contains six issued U.S. and three issued foreign patents, as well as 17 U.S. and 51 foreign patent-pending applications. In its drug development pipeline, Gb Sciences has five preclinical phase product development programs. Gb Sciences' lead program for Parkinson's disease is being prepared for a first-in-human clinical trial. Gb Sciences' formulations for chronic pain, anxiety, and depression are currently in preclinical animal studies with researchers at the National Research Council of Canada. The company also received positive preclinical proof-of-concept data supporting its complex mixtures for the treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome, and its lead candidates will be optimized based on late-stage preclinical studies at Michigan State University. Gb Sciences' productive research and development network includes distinguished universities, hospitals, and Contract Research Organizations. To learn more, visit www.gbsciences.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements relating to future results or events, which are forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "may," "could," "should," "anticipates," "likely," "believes" and words of similar import may identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further, information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's business and financial and other results, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware.

Mike Golic at Credit Union 1 in South Bend
Mike Golic announces The Golic Family Foundation's partnership with Credit Union 1 at the South Bend, Ind., branch.

Credit Union 1 (CU1)—a leading financial institution with branches across Illinois, Indiana, and Nevada, and the Official Banking Partner of Notre Dame Athletics—is announcing its partnership with the Golic Family Foundation, a charitable organization started by notable Notre Dame alumnus, former NFL player and veteran sportscaster Mike Golic and his family. Together, CU1 and the Golic Family Foundation plan to offer $100,000 in grants to local nonprofits serving the South Bend community and beyond in 2023. 

The partnership builds upon the success of the inaugural Golic Sub-Par Classic at The University of Notre Dame, held in June 2022. Credit Union 1 was the primary sponsor for the event, which benefited The Logan Center, Center for the Homeless, Food Bank of Northern Indiana and the South Bend Animal Resource Center. 

"South Bend will always be home to our family thanks to the countless memories and milestones we have celebrated here, and we look forward to giving back to the community that helped shape us all," says Golic. "Through the Golic Family Foundation, which will expand on the success of the inaugural Sub-Par Classic, we will raise money for causes near to our heart, and we are excited that this partnership with Credit Union 1 will allow us to give back in an even bigger way." 

In addition to the $100,000 of grants that will be distributed, Credit Union 1 also plans to donate $200 to the Golic Family Foundation each time a new member opens a Fighting Irish Program account, allowing members to participate in giving back to the community. 

"In our 65-year history, Credit Union 1 has always been committed to supporting families and communities. As we expand into the South Bend community with our new branch located just minutes from the University of Notre Dame campus, we wanted to ensure that our presence went beyond just serving our local members," says Todd Gunderson, President and CEO of Credit Union 1. "The partnership with the Golic Family Foundation was a natural fit, and we look forward to strengthening our ties with the residents of South Bend and the wonderful nonprofits that serve the community." 

Grants will be distributed throughout 2023, but interested organizations can learn more and submit an application now at creditunion1.org/golic. 

About Credit Union 1  

Credit Union 1 is celebrating 65 years of helping members reach their financial goals. CU1 is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative serving 85,000 members across 14 branches located in Illinois, Indiana, and Nevada. CU1 also serves members nationwide thanks to a highly rated mobile app, 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs, and 5,000 shared-branch locations. CU1's mission is to exceed our members' expectations by delivering innovative financial solutions to help achieve their maximum economic potential. In 2021, CU1 provided $9.9 million in direct financial benefits to members through lower loan rates, high savings rates, and fewer fees than banking institutions.