As of today, Shoppers Drug Mart is Canada’s newest weed dealer

Shoppers Drug Mart is now the latest in a growing list of legal weed dealers, having officially launched cannabis sales today, January 8.

Just don’t expect to see OG Kush next to the baby aspirin anytime soon, as Shoppers will only be selling cannabis online. Those looking to partake should head to Shoppers’ new online cannabis portal, cannabis.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

Screen capture of cannabis.shoppersdrugmart.ca/

“As trusted medication experts, pharmacists have an important role to play in the safe and informed use of medical cannabis,” said Jeff Leger, president, Shoppers Drug Mart. “Medical cannabis, like any prescribed medication, requires the same level of counsel from a healthcare professional. As medical cannabis is increasingly prescribed to Canadians for its therapeutic benefits, our goal is to enhance the service and support that patients receive through this process.”

Currently only providing service to Ontario, the site offers a selection of cannabis to medical users. You cannot order from the site without the proper Medical Document — a form, similar to a prescription, obtained through a medical physician — and going through a simple but multi-stage process.

Patients in Ontario can bring their document to a Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy, where their staff will process the information. According to the release, specialized advisors from the Shoppers Cannabis Care Centre will contact patients, review their medical history and any contraindications based on current medications, and provide support with online registration and strain selection.

This is a standard process that medical cannabis users in Canada have to take to receive medicine and is not unique to Shoppers. There is no timeline offered by the site for how long this process could take.

According to the company, the Shoppers Drug Mart Medical Advisory Board, a “panel of independent medical experts from across the country who provide guidance and advice on new clinical evidence,” have developed clinical algorithms to help their advisors select the correct strain based on the prescriber’s recommendation.

Shoppers Drug Mart has currently signed agreements with ten licensed producers and also begin providing products and medical accessories for cannabis.