TORONTO, March 19, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blueberries Medical Corp. (CSE: BBM) (OTC: BBRRF) (FRA: 1OA) (the “Company” or "Blueberries"), a leading Colombia-based licensed producer of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-derived products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Fabio Valencia Cossio, a former Colombian Minister, Senator and Ambassador to Italy with extensive strategic international business experience to its board of directors.



“We are honored to welcome Mr. Valencia to our board of directors and are confident that his vast experience in public policy and international business will be a valuable addition to our leadership team,” stated Christian Toro, Chief Executive Officer. “His appointment will create competitive advantages through his established track record of success guiding global companies in rapidly evolving regulatory environments. As we look to expand globally and enter new jurisdictions, Mr. Valencia’s international relationships and experience navigating foreign regulatory environments will be invaluable.”

“I look forward to joining the Blueberries team as they continue to execute on their impressive growth strategy and show their leadership in the Colombian market and abroad,” stated Mr. Valencia. “I am confident I will be able to add value as we become a dominant regional player in Latin America and expand internationally.”

Mr. Valencia practiced as a lawyer after graduating from the University of Antioquia before being elected to Colombian congress in 1982. His extensive tenure in public office includes service in the following appointments:

Minister of the Interior and Justice of Colombia

Ambassador to Italy with dual accreditation to Greece, Malta, San Marino and Cyprus

Representative of Colombia to the United Nations Agency in Rome

High Presidential Adviser for Competitiveness and Productivity

President of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia

Senator and Member of House of Colombia Representatives

Member of the National Council of Narcotic Drugs

Presidential Commissioner for the Plan Puebla-Panama

Colombian Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Peace Negotiator, Colombian Government and FARC

Minister Delegate for Presidential Functions of Colombia

Since his tenure with the government, Mr. Valencia has been very active in the private sector where he currently provides legal and commercial consulting services to an extensive group of large multinational companies looking to grow their operations in South America. He is currently engaged with consumer product companies including Diageo plc, Pernod Ricard S.A. and Bacardi Limited. Mr. Valencia has also advised Ribera Salud Spain, a leading provider of health insurance services and Indra Sistemas S.A., Grupo Tradeco, Gilat Satellite Networks, Pacific Rubiales and Gran Colombia Gold.

Mr. Valencia’s distinguished political career spanned 40 years over which time he was an integral member of numerous significant political accomplishments. As Ambassador to Italy, Mr. Valencia achieved the highest level of diplomatic, commercial and cultural relations. The following is a few of his many achievements. As Minister of the Interior and Justice of Colombia, Mr. Valencia designed a comprehensive policy against the world drug problem and redesigned the national narcotics program. He also designed and implemented several important policies for the protection of human rights as well as a monitoring system for the legislative activity of the National Government in the Congress of Colombia. During his time in the High Council for Competitiveness, he helped to create and implement the national competitiveness system, recognized by the private sector as a great instrument for investment and business development and infrastructure in all regions of the country. Mr. Valencia was also instrumental with ​​the Puebla-Panama Plan, "the Mesoamerica Project", helping to have Colombia accepted as a full partner in the Mexico-Central America regional block, generating new multilateral opportunities for the Country. As an author he Mr. Valencia has written, “Towards a New Municipality” (1985), “Chronicles of Courage” (1994), “Asia: The Future” (1996), and “Formulas to Save Colombia” (1996). He also co-authored “Freedom of the Press in Colombia”, “Solutions for the Countryside”, and “Insecurity and Impunity in Colombia”, among others.

Mr. Valencia is also a former President of the Shalom Association (Cultural Exchange with Israel) and a Member of the Colombo-Israel Cultural Institute based in Jerusalem.

In recognition of his service, Mr. Valencia has been distinguished with a number of prestigious honors including:

Order of San Carlos granted by the National Government of Colombia

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Knight of Grand Cross) granted by the Italian Republic

Order of the Congress of Colombia Gran Cruz degree with gold plaque granted by the Senate

Mr. Valencia has been granted options (the “Options”) to purchase up to 500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company, pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan. The Options are exercisable at a price of $0.55 per share.

About Blueberries Medical Corp.

Blueberries is a Colombia-based licensed producer of naturally grown premium quality cannabis with its primary operations ideally located in the Bogotá Savannah of central Colombia. Led by a specialized team with proprietary expertise in agriculture, genetics, extraction, medicine, pharmacology and marketing, Blueberries is fully licensed for the cultivation, production, domestic distribution, and international export of CBD and THC-based medical cannabis. Blueberries’ combination of leading scientific expertise, agricultural advantages and distribution arrangements has positioned the Company to become a leading international supplier of naturally grown, processed, and standardized medicinal-grade cannabis oil extracts and related products.

Additional information about the Company is available at www.blueberriesmed.com. For more information, please contact:

Camilo Villalba, Chief Operating Officer

Tel: +57.313.483.0131

Email: cvillalba@blueberriesmed.com

Jessika Angarita, Pacta Relations

angarita@pactarelations.com

Tel: +1 (305) 877 4710

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward looking statements relate, among other things, to future expansion plans in Europe.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the Colombian and international medical cannabis market and changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution and sale of cannabis and cannabis related products in Colombia or internationally; and employee relations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Additional information regarding the Company, and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Listing Statement dated January 31, 2019 filed on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.