Cannabis Weekly Round-Up: Shoppers Drug Mart Closes Medical Cannabis Store

Shoppers Drug Mart to transition patients to new platform

Shoppers announced on Tuesday (March 28) that it will wind down its online medical cannabis platform in the next three months.

Canadian medical cannabis patients relying on the digital storefront set up by the nationwide pharmacy chain will now be counting on Avicanna’s (TSX:AVCN,OTCQX:AVCNF) platform MyMedi.ca.

"We are motivated towards furthering the work started by Shoppers Drug Mart 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," Aras Azadian, CEO of Avicanna, said.

The launch of Shoppers' medical cannabis platform was seen as a recognition of the industry’s size and potential following the legalization of adult-use products in late 2018. According to the company, it supported tens of thousands of patients.

While Shoppers hasn't given an explanation for its decision to step away from the cannabis space, President Jeff Leger said the company will continue to advocate for the belief that cannabis medication “should be dispensed in pharmacies like all others.”

Canada's federal budget changes tax payment schedule

The delivery of Canada's latest federal budget brought another major change in the country's cannabis market.

While some of the industry's longstanding requests for financial help weren't addressed, the document acknowledges the sector in one significant way by announcing that cannabis excise duty payment terms will change from monthly to quarterly.

A leading association representing the interests of Canadian licensed producers wasn’t impressed by the rule change.

“The survival of our industry’s small and medium sized players hangs in the balance, and the measure announced today and the words acknowledging the challenging conditions that we face don’t add up to meaningful relief,” George Smitherman, president and CEO of the Cannabis Council of Canada, said in a statement.

According to the group, cannabis sales in Canada earned governments C$1.6 billion in the 2021/2022 fiscal year.

Cannabis company news

• Fire & Flower Holdings (TSX:FAF,OTCQX:FFLWF) confirmed the launch of an online marketplace in Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store. Matthew Hollingshead, chief innovation officer with the retailer, said this service will engage consumers on a new level.

• Auxly Cannabis Group (TSX:XLY,OTCQB:CBWTF) issued its Q4 and full-year financial results for 2022 and provided an outlook for the coming year. Hugo Alves, CEO of Auxly, said the company has had to adapt because of the challenges facing the Canadian cannabis industry. “Our efforts have yielded positive results, including our first significant wholesales of bulk dried flower from Auxly Leamington, improved net revenues and blended margins, and reductions in SG&A during the fourth quarter,” he said.

• High Tide (NASDAQ:HITI,TSXV:HITI) confirmed to investors the purchase of 258,921 common shares of the firm by a group of “certain officers, directors and consultants," led by the president and CEO, at an average price of US$1.59 per share. Insiders now own approximately 9.67 percent of the company’s shares.

• Verano Holdings (CSE:VRNO,OTCQX:VRNOF) released its financial results for Q4 2022 as well as the full year. “I’m very proud of our results in 2022, highlighted by record revenue and one of the industry’s leading margin profiles, which demonstrate our continued execution in driving efficiencies across the business and positioning ourselves ahead of growth,” said George Archos, founder, chairman and CEO of the firm.