Over the next three months, Shoppers will continue to support patients as it transfers assets and services to Avicanna, which has been involved in developing medicinal cannabis applications like musculoskeletal pain and, along with the University of Toronto, epilepsy. Avicanna also offers a line of proprietary cannabinoid products marketed under the RHO Phyto brand.

“We are grateful for the trust placed in us by our medical cannabis patients over the past few years, and are confident we’ve found the right partner in Avicanna to continue to support them,” says Jeff Leger, president of Shoppers Drug Mart. “As we move away from medical cannabis distribution, we remain firm in our belief that this medication should be dispensed in pharmacies like all others and will continue our advocacy to that end.”

Medical Cannabis by Shoppers was first launched in Ontario in January of 2019. The platform allowed patients to bring medical documents to Shoppers’ locations to register as a medical cannabis patient and be granted access to approximately 30 licensed brands, including its exclusive FlowRx. Then, via its Shoppers Cannabis Care Centre, advisors were on hand to help guide users through the medicinal cannabis buying process, with Leger noting at the time, as trusted healthcare professionals, “pharmacists have an important role to play in the safe and informed use of medical cannabis.”

This May, as part of the transition, Avicanna will introduce MyMedi.ca, a new medical cannabis care platform designed to assist the patient journey. MyMedi.ca will have pharmacist-led patient support programs and looks to provide a similar product portfolio including various formats, brands, and competitive pricing.

With initial transitional support from Medical Cannabis by Shoppers team, MyMedi.ca will provide a scientifically curated and diverse formulary of products, and comprehensive training programs for the medical community, like its Avicanna Academy for Health Professionals.

The online medical portal will also focus on patient education in areas such as harm reduction and will continue to provide specialty services to distinct patient groups such as veterans.

“We are motivated towards furthering the work started by Shoppers to create Canada’s leading independent, comprehensive medical cannabis platform and continuing our efforts towards advancing access to medical cannabis and its long-term incorporation into the standard of care,” says Aras Azadian, CEO, Avicanna.