Pubdate: Sat, 22 Apr 2017
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Kristy Kirkup
Page: A8

MEDICINE DISTRIBUTORS SAY THEY OFFER 'PROVEN SOLUTION' TO MOVING LEGAL
MARIJUANA

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, 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.

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 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."

The government will ensure Canadians who need cannabis for medical
purposes can do so through the existing regime, Health Minister Jane
Philpott said this week, noting a federally appointed task force
recommended a separate system alongside the recreational one.

In a 2016 decision, the Federal Court of Canada declared a previous
medical marijuana system unconstitutional on the basis it did not
provide patients with reasonable access to cannabis. The government
introduced new regulations in August, so patients could access
marijuana through licensed producers, produce their own, or designate
someone to do so.
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MAP posted-by: Matt