The largest drugstore chain in Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, continues to secure medical cannabis deals ahead of what is expected to be a tight supply market for the product, at least in the near term.
In the latest deal, Aurora Cannabis agreed to become a medical cannabis supplier to Toronto-based Shoppers.
Financial terms and the amount of medical cannabis involved were not disclosed.
Shoppers plans to sell medical cannabis from multiple producers nationwide through its online pharmacy, including whole flower, oil and capsules.
The pharmacy chain previously signed supply deals with Tilray, Aphria and MedReleaf.
All of Shoppers’ supply deals are subject to Health Canada’s approval of the pharmacy operator’s application to become a licensed producer, which is a necessary step in obtaining a sales and distribution license and would allow it to purchase cannabis from other producers.
Medical cannabis in Canada is may be distributed only online.
Other Canadian pharmacies are also locking up supply.
Lovell Drugs, Ontario’s oldest pharmacy chain, has an exclusive deal with Toronto-based Maricann Group.
CanniMed Therapeutics entered into a definitive agreement with PharmaChoice to supply medical cannabis products to its 750 pharmacy locations across Canada.
