Pubdate: Thu, 25 Feb 2016
Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Thandi Fletcher
Page: 4

DRUGSTORES, YOUR BEST BUD

London Drugs could be selling you pot, should it be legalized

Medical marijuana users may soon be able to pick up some pot along
with other prescription pills, at least if two of Canada's largest
drugstore chains have their way.

Richmond-based London Drugs says the company is exploring the
possibility of selling medical marijuana in its 79 stores in B.C.,
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, should the federal government
legalize it.

"London Drugs is not doing anything with medical marijuana today, but
we anticipate that most likely the legislation will change to enable
medical marijuana to be more accessible," John Tse, vice-president of
pharmacy for London Drugs, told Metro. "Should the legislation change,
we're going to prepare ourselves to be ready for that."

The drugstore made its comments Wednesday after the Globe and Mail,
citing unnamed sources, reported that competitor Shoppers Drug Mart
has held meetings with medical marijuana producers and suppliers over
the past year about the idea of selling legal pot through its pharmacies.

Shoppers Drug Mart would not confirm if it has met with medical
marijuana producers. But in a statement Wednesday, the company said it
believes pharmacies are best equipped to dispense medical marijuana.

If and when marijuana is legalized, Tse agreed it makes sense for
pharmacists to dispense medical pot given their expertise in
prescription drug management.

As experts in drug interactions, he said pharmacists could help
determine if a patient who is taking other prescription medications
could face any possible negative side effects if they also use medical
marijuana.

Since drug stores already operate in a highly regulated environment,
Tse said being able to dispense medical marijuana could also yield
information about its use to help guide future regulatory changes.

But Tse acknowledged that there are still many problems to weed out
first, from training pharmacists on how to dispense medical marijuana
to finding more medical literature about the effects of pot.
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MAP posted-by: Matt