Adastra Holdings Ltd. announced that Adastra Labs received approval from Health Canada on February 17, 2023, for its amendment to include cocaine as a substance that the Company can legally possess, produce, sell and distribute. The Company received its Controlled Drug and Substances Dealer's License on August 24, 2022. The Dealer's License also allows Adastra to possess, produce, sell and distribute up to 1,000 grams of psilocybin and psilocin. The amended license allows Adastra to interact with up to 250 grams of cocaine and to import coca leaves to manufacture and synthesize the substance. Forbes has extensive experience working in the front lines of addiction medicine as a pharmacist in his multiple methadone pharmacies. He also has a specialty in compounding pharmacy and formulation and is the founder of Ageless Living, longevity-based interdisciplinary clinics. Forbes piloted a needle exchange program at the direction of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010.

In British Columbia, there is a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) for adults 18 years and older to possess up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, or some combination thereof between January 31, 2023, and January 31, 20261.