TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart has submitted an application to distribute medical marijuana — a move that, if permitted, could change how patients get access to the drug.
But although the pharmacy chain says allowing it to dispense cannabis would improve patient care, some industry players are voicing concerns that users could face higher prices and have access to fewer strains.
Federal regulations only allow registered patients to buy cannabis directly from licensed producers, who send the product to clients by mail.
That means that even if Shoppers Drug Mart’s application is approved, Canada’s largest pharmacy chain won’t be permitted to sell medical marijuana through its stores unless Ottawa revises the rules.
Shoppers Drug Mart spokeswoman Tammy Smitham says the company is hopeful that the federal government will do so, arguing that it would improve “access, safety, quality and security” for patients.
Industry association Cannabis Canada says adding a middleman such as a pharmacy could provide some benefits — for example, medical marijuana users would be able to consult with their pharmacists face-to-face — but it may also come with some downsides.
Consumers may end up paying a higher price, says Colette Rivet, executive director of Cannabis Canada.
“There’s a dispensing fee on all pharmaceuticals,” Rivet said.
“At Shoppers Drug Mart they pay a certain price for the pills but then they add a dispensing fee to cover their administrative costs.”
Another concern is that the variety of strains available on store shelves could be quite limited, Rivet said.
“That is critical for patients because they react differently to different strains,” she said.
Mark Zekulin, president of licensed producer Canopy Growth Corp., said it would be vital that pharmacists are educated about the drug if they’re going to sell it in stores.
“What if you show up at the pharmacy for assistance … and they haven’t been properly trained and they’re not necessarily engaged in understanding the product? You end up ultimately with a disservice,” Zekulin said.
The number of clients registered with Health Canada to use medical cannabis has grown. At the end of June there were 75,166 registered clients under the medical marijuana regime, according to the Health Canada’s website.