OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 2, 2016) - GrowPros Cannabis Ventures Inc. ("GrowPros" or the "Company" or "GCI") (CSE:GCI) is pleased to announce the creation of a new subsidiary PhytoPain Pharma Inc. ("PPP"). PPP will be owned 80% by GCI and with 20% owned by Dr. Guy Chamberland, M.Sc., Ph.D. and Mr. André Rancourt as co-founders with GCI.

The mission of PPP is the development and commercialization of botanical based pharmaceuticals. PPP is a clinical-stage drug development company engaged in the development of medication to alleviate symptoms related to pain, Insomnia and anxiety disorders in patients suffering from Cancer and other chronic and terminal diseases that cause uncontrolled pain and or insomnia.

PPP has submitted a pre-CTA (Clinical Trial Applications) information package to the Therapeutics Drug Directorate (TPD). As agreed with TPD, Health Canada will provide guidance to PPP's planned Phase I clinical trial of its lead product, an inhalation cannabis drug product. The company intends on initiating the Phase I clinical trial later this year. PPP is developing this product as a prescription controlled drug for the management of uncontrolled pain in cancer patients.

PPP has licenced a hypnotic drug from Mondias Naturals Inc for the management of insomnia in patients with chronic pain. This latter product is currently in late stage (Phase III) clinical testing. PPP is currently developing a combination product for the treatment of uncontrolled pain. The proprietary combination product should reach clinical testing in 2017.

GrowPros announced today that Dr. Guy Chamberland, M.Sc., Ph.D., was appointed as Chief Scientific Officer and will take over the role of drug development and regulatory affairs. "The Board of Directors and I are delighted that Guy has agreed to join PPP," said André Audet, Chairman. "Guy is someone with tremendous expertise in drug development and specifically the development of botanical drugs and combination products, his unquestioned intellect, work ethic, and integrity will prove to be of great value to the GCI organization and its shareholders."

Dr. Chamberland has worked over 22 years in the pharmaceutical and natural product industries and is also a professor of herbal medicine and clinical research at the École d'Enseignement Supérieur de Naturopathie du Québec. He has successfully developed intellectual property for several botanical drug products and has managed numerous development programs and worked closely with marketing teams to develop physician education programs.

GCI is also announcing today that André Rancourt was appointed as the Vice President Corporate Development and will take over the strategic and licencing operations of PPP.

Mr. Rancourt is highly experienced in management, start-up companies, and commercial strategies for human and agriculture products. He has developed an expertise in the area of negotiation and has successfully negotiated collective agreements for Station Radiophonique Régional de Télémédia Québec as well as agreements for companies in the metal and Agro-Food businesses. In addition, he negotiated license agreements as well as several technology transfers. Over the last ten years, Mr. Rancourt worked as a consultant to re-organize the operations of companies on behalf of several venture capital investment funds.

"André is someone with tremendous expertise in negotiation and has a vast network of contacts in the industry. His dedication and work ethic will benefit the PPP organization and its shareholders. The Board of Directors and I are excited that André is joining PPP to help the corporation become a world leader in botanical drugs," commented André Audet, Chairman.

Subject to regulatory approval, Mr. Rancourt and Dr. Chamberland will each receive from GrowPros:

1. upon submission of pre-CTA information package: 1,250,000 options at $0.05 for 5 years and 750,000 common shares warrants at $0.05 for 1 year;
2. upon commencement of Phase 1 clinical trials of PPP0001: 2,000,000 common shares warrants at $0.05 for 2 years; and
3. upon successful completion of Phase 1 clinical trials of PPP0001: 2,000,000 common shares warrants at $0.05 for 3 years

"The creation of PPP provides GCI with a clear and defined approach to medicinal cannabis product development. GCI 's subsidiaries will now be able to collaborate on the development and design of a cannabis production facility designed to produce the standardized raw material that PPP will require to develop and bring their inhalation cannabis drug product to market. Rather than being another applicant producer vying for a piece of an already oversaturated ever changing dried flower and cannabis oils market, we will now focus on creating licensed protected pharmaceutical and natural health products containing cannabis and other medicinal plants," commented Ryan Brown, Chief Executive Officer.

Update on application

GCI is finalising technical plans for its revised 12,500 sq. ft. two-storey production facility to be built in conjunction with Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc. ("Delta 9") a licensed producer under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulation ("MMPR"). As previously announced, Delta 9 will be submitting an application to build a secondary production facility under section 26 of the MMPR. As per the terms of the agreement, GCI will acquire the license from Delta 9 in exchange for $2,000,000 in stock payable in 5 equal payments upon milestone completions.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed this news release and does not accept responsibility for its adequacy or accuracy.

Forward-looking statements

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the inability of the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, GrowPros MMP Inc., to obtain a licence for the production of medical marijuana; failure to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Company's business plan; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.