Sérgio Neto and Ricardo Morais, founders of Pure Healing, left the company

Sérgio Neto and Ricardo Morais, the two founders of Pure Healing (PH), left their positions in the company at the beginning of August, leaving Marina Penim, the third managing partner, alone in the management of the company. The three gave Exclusive interview with Cannareporter last year, a few months after they got their license from Infarmed.

Pure Healing is one of the few 100% Portuguese companies licensed by Infarmed for the production, cultivation and export of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Betting on organic cultivation, PH has created 13 jobs and has growth prospects for its 5 square meter plantation near Alcácer do Sal, where it reached record levels of THC in two auto-flowering plants last year. — Auto Cinderella Jack (28%) and Auto Skywalker Haze (29%).

On the phone, Marina Penim confirmed the departure of Ricardo and Sérgio to Cannareporter, saying that “companies have cycles and as such, at this stage there was a change. Sérgio and Ricardo did an excellent job in starting up the company, a tireless struggle over the last four years. When they arrived here, other opportunities were presented to them”. Marina also thanked “the sharing, the knowledge they provided us and the day-to-day experiences”.

As for the future of PH, Marina assured that the company “will maintain the same focus, the same ideology and the same determination to grow crops to help those who need it most. And putting the best quality cannabis flower on the market.”

4 years of “blood, sweat and tears”, which leave “the best memories”

Speaking to Cannareporter, Sérgio Neto said that there was no specific factor that motivated his departure. “I believe that we all go through different phases in life and there are cycles that have a limited duration. Since 2018, even before Pure Healing was officially born, the first arrows were launched that took us on the path we were building, leaf by leaf, test by test, plant by plant. It is a fact that boosting a start-up has its challenges. The cannabis market in Portugal is as old as PH and is constantly developing. Over time, challenges emerged that were never in the plans, because they didn't even exist in this new sector of activity in Portugal”, he said, adding: “I keep the best memories of these 4 years for myself”.

“My mission is far from complete.”

In love with the plant since he discovered the grandmother's illness benefits, Sérgio plunged headlong into the creation of the company, with the same desire to help other people. “I loved every day, I lived them with all the energy and motivation. One of the goals we set from day zero would be to make PH a benchmark in cannabis cultivation. To some extent, I believe I have at least managed to leave a small mark on the pages of cannabis history. We managed, in the first year of cultivation, to make the most potent automatic THC plant in the world. It's a huge pride! we had the Cinderella and Skywalker breaking power records and making headlines around the world in 2021″, he said proudly. “I met amazing people and stories that would bring any human being to tears. I carry all of this forever in my heart. I'm so sorry I couldn't be of more help. There are millions of people who need the help of all cannabis professionals all over the world and we cannot fail. As far as I'm concerned, my mission is far from complete. I believe in destiny and I believe that the future depends a lot on our effort and dedication”, he told Cannareporter. “Blood, sweat and tears… today I see that there is no better description possible for these 4 years”, he confessed.

Ricardo Morais wrote on his LinkedIn page that it is “with pride and a sense of accomplishment” that he leaves Pure Healing: “Today, in August 2022, there is a turning of the page in my professional life and in the future of Pure Healing , since both will follow different paths. It was a journey full of learning, challenges, glories, successes and failures, but above all, brutal interpersonal and professional enrichment. We suffered, we cried, we laughed, we fought, we fought stigmas and prejudices and we broke records... The Pure Healing project has always been guided by a lot of commitment, effort, dedication, a spirit of sacrifice, love and affection, but above all a Believing and Wanting that Cannabis effectively reach those who need it most – We Grow because We Care. It is with pride and a sense of accomplishment that I leave Pure Healing. To all those who helped us make Pure Healing a reality, my thanks and eternal affection. Long live Portugal. Long live Cannabis.”

Both Sérgio and Ricardo have not yet revealed their plans for the future.