The Federal government declared July
1, 2018 as the deadline to legalize recreational cannabis. The real tantalizing question is: how will it
be distributed? The Provincial
governments have the responsibility to make this decision. Many investors, business owners and
corporations are agonizing over this decision because recreational cannabis
offers a significant earning potential.
Even pharmacists are eagerly waiting for the decision, as it could help
revitalize the profession that has been hit with budget cuts over the past few years. Shoppers
Drug Mart has already taken their first step into cannabis distribution by submitting
an application to become a licensed medical cannabis distributor.
Who are the
potential candidates for cannabis distribution? There are 3 viable options:
- Pharmacies
- Government owned dispensaries
- Privately owned dispensaries
However, the provincial governments will want to maximize their earnings. The best way to do this is by distributing cannabis through government owned dispensaries. The issue with this option is that provincial governments will be too slow to set up distribution locations by the July 1, 2018 deadline. This is why the Ontario government is considering combining LCBOs (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) with dispensaries. This idea is absurd from a health care perspective because it encourages combining alcohol with cannabis; however, perhaps from a politician’s point of view, nothing is out of the question (just look at Donald Trump).
The last option, gaining a lot of
traction recently, is privately owned dispensaries. There are a number of illegally operating
dispensaries throughout the provinces, which are hoping to legitimize when the
provincial legislation passes. They are already set up to dispense cannabis,
which makes them an easy option for the provinces to certify as licensed cannabis
distributors. However, it may be
difficult to regulate these dispensaries as many of these locations may not be
using ethical business practices. For
those owners currently operating outside of the law, continuing to do so after
legislation passes may not be a stretch.
Regardless of the
provinces’ decision, pharmacists will need to be prepared to counsel and advise
patients on the use of cannabis.
The following continuing education programs
are an excellent way to learn more about cannabis:
- “Medical Cannabis Certificate Program” – a comprehensive look at cannabis. ($995 CAD)
- “Medical Cannabis IQ: The Fundamentals” – a quick review of the fundamentals of cannabis. ($99 CAD)
For Ontario
healthcare professionals only, there is a $1,500 government fund to help
subsidize continuing education costs. Therefore
if you are a registered Ontario pharmacist, you may be eligible to be
reimbursed! Visit Allied Health Fund
for more details.
- Ajay Chahal
