Pubdate: Thu, 20 Apr 2017
Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Osprey Media
Contact: http://www.thesudburystar.com/letters
Website: http://www.thesudburystar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608
Author: Kristy Kirkup
Page: A5

PHARMACY DISTRIBUTORS WANT IN ON CANADA'S LEGALIZED MARIJUANA REGIME

OTTAWA - The federal government's plans for legalizing recreational
marijuana has many would be players looking to carve out a role for
themselves in the emerging market, including pharmaceutical
distributors who already ship drugs across the country.

The Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management - a
supplier of medicine for pharmacies and hospitals - says it has a
ready-made system for marijuana distribution that they say is far
superior to mail-order pot.

Pharmaceutical distributors offer a more appropriate vehicle for the
recreational marijuana market, CEO David Johnston said in an interview
Wednesday, noting they already have the infrastructure in place to
handle potential recalls, be it in downtown Toronto or remote northern
Ontario.

"Pharmaceutical products (are) being shipped across this country and
being delivered by the pharmaceutical distributors, so we feel like we
are a natural partner in the movement of marijuana, both medical and
recreational, to whatever its final access point is," Johnston said.
"That's a detail that's not known yet."

The federal government plans to have an established regime for
legalized marijuana by July 2018, but will require provincial and
territorial governments to play a critical role on issues including
licensing, distribution and retail sales.

More discussions can unfold with federal and provincial officials now
that the Liberal government fired up the process last week when it
tabled its long-awaited marijuana legislation, Johnston added.

"There are ... difficult and complicated questions that need to be
answered around the legalization of marijuana both medically and
recreationally," he said.

"What we are suggesting is: Here is a very complex section where you
already have a ... proven solution."

On Thursday, hundreds are expected to flock to Parliament Hill to take
part in so-called 4-20 celebrations - an annual, highly visible
display of support for legal marijuana that takes place in various
locales around the world.

The celebration is expected to take on new meaning now the federal
government has set in motion its legalization process including
sweeping legal, health and justice policy shifts. Health Minister Jane
Philpott, who first signalled the timing of the landmark legislation
on 4-20 last year at a UN special session on drugs, did not strike a
celebratory tone when asked Wednesday about the upcoming
demonstrations.

"We are pleased that we were able to get this bill tabled in the
House," she said in an interview.

"It is a transformative piece of policy that is, I think, a strong
response to the realities that we are facing in Canada with high rates
of cannabis use."
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MAP posted-by: Matt