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Canada’s medical marijuana sector got its start in April 2014, when Ottawa introduced rules forcing patients to buy their product from licensed producers. Dozens of marijuana companies quickly emerged, and they now have more than 50,000 patients signed up across the country.

When the federal government was formulating its regulations around pot in 2012 and 2013, it invited the pharmacies to take part in distribution. But the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) declined to participate. In early 2013, the group sent a letter to Health Canada saying it was concerned about a “lack of evidence” supporting the use of medical marijuana.

It now belatedly wants to get on board. Last week, the CPhA announced that pharmacists should play a “front-line role” in dispensing marijuana. The CPhA’s position was backed by a detailed report from KPMG LLP.

Phil Emberley, the CPhA’s director of professional affairs, said pharmacists still think more evidence is needed around marijuana’s use as medicine. But as Canadians use the product in increasingly large numbers, he said pharmacists are needed to ensure patient safety.

“We know that there are side effects with marijuana, and potential drug interactions as well,” he said. “We feel that a lot of patients are accessing medical marijuana without being protected from some of those concerns.”

The pot companies want to increase patient access to marijuana, so they are broadly supportive of pharmacies playing a role in distribution. They recognize that some patients will always prefer to get their medicine from a pharmacist.