The Story Behind Pharmaca 28

Dear Patrons,

My name is Blair Collins, and I am the founder of Pharmaca 28. I want to share the story behind our name and why this business exists.

How It Started

Sixteen years ago, I was misdiagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. What I actually had was a traumatic brain injury from a serious accident. I was prescribed Prozac to “manage anxiety.”

For 11 years, I tried to heal the wrong problem. I spent over $100,000 searching for answers. The process was exhausting and treacherous. I learned how to function. I learned how to smile. I learned how to perform outward emotion. Inside, I felt almost nothing.

The Breaking Point

Ten years ago, I came off the medication. What followed was the worst psychological pain I have ever experienced. It was the first time I had ever truly felt depression. The insomnia was relentless. The anxiety was unbearable. I drank a bottle of whiskey a night just to cope and get a few hours of sleep. I genuinely thought I might die.

Finding Mitragyna Speciosa

During that period, I tried a plant called Mitragyna Speciosa. It did not magically fix my life. But it lifted the cloud just long enough for me to think clearly, long enough to seek coaching, and long enough to pursue the right doctors and finally address the traumatic brain injury itself.

It gave me a window, and that window changed my life forever.

Why This Business Exists

Standing Up for Freedom of Choice

Then San Diego County attempted to classify Mitragyna as an illegal substance, largely under pressure from pharmaceutical interests. I worked with my attorney and a lobbyist. We built a strategy. We met with the Board of Supervisors. We pushed back against a bill that would have removed freedom of choice for adults seeking alternatives.

We won.

Building Something Different

After that, I decided to build something different. I started a natural wellness company disguised as a beautiful, inviting café. Cute. Fancy. Thoughtfully designed. A place that felt safe. A place where families, professionals, husbands and wives could walk in without stigma. A place to access clean, lab-tested botanicals, always knowing exactly what is in them, without being forced into smoke shops or ordering from nameless, faceless websites with no accountability.

Why We Changed the Name

And now we hide in plain sight so we can continue my life’s work.

It has not been easy. I have had hit pieces written about me. I have received threats, nasty emails, and messages. Privacy became important. What we focus on expands. So rather than focusing on the hate, I chose to focus on impact and my God-given purpose.

In the last four years, over 20,000 families and young professionals have walked through our doors and become part of our community.

There is always a story behind the story.

What We Believe

Fighting for rights, freedom, and sovereignty does not have to be loud or aggressive. It does not require insults or social media theatrics. It can be strategic. It can be composed. It can be kind.

It can look like flowers on the counter, country music in the background, and a space that smells like Christmas all year long.

Words That Carried Me

I will leave you with two quotes that carried my soul through darkness:

“Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”— Muhammad Ali

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.”— Winston Churchill

Come See Us

Sincerely,
Blair Collins
Founder, Pharmaca 28