Medical marijuana patients will soon be able to pick up cannabis prescriptions at their local Shoppers Drug Mart.
The pharmacy giant has received Health Canada’s approval to be a licensed medical marijuana producer, making it the first "brick and mortar" retail store to administer medical marijuana.
Before Friday's approval, the only legal distribution method for medical marijuana was by mail order from licensed producers direct to patients.
The pharmacy retail chain had already in recent months signed several supply deals with various licensed medical marijuana producers, including Aurora Cannabis, Aphria Inc., MedReleaf Corp. and Tilray Inc., subject to Health Canada’s approval of its application.
It was also announced in July that Shoppers was partnering with Manulife Financial Corp. to offer enhanced medical marijuana insurance coverage.
Leading industry groups such as the Canadian Pharmacists Association have recommended that pharmacies play a leading role in the distribution of medical marijuana.
With files from the Canadian Press.
