By By Marcus Hondro Apr 9, 2016 in Health An organization representing pharmacies in Canada issued a press release Thursday saying it believes it is the best option to distribute medical marijuana in the country. A few years long ago the very same group said it did not want to do so. Pharmacies want pot The Canadian Pharmacist Association (CPhA) represents independent pharmacies and provincial and national pharmaceutical groups across the country. The association has previously voiced a reluctance to have its member dispense medical marijuana for a variety of reasons. Its stance was the opposite of Shopper's Drug Mart in Canada — that chain has wanted for some time to take part in dispensing medical marijuana. The CPhA has now joined it in that position, citing "patient safety" as its reason for doing so. “Pharmacists are medication experts and play a critical role in the management and monitoring of medication to ensure safe and optimal use,” a “And it is patient safety that is ultimately at the heart of CPhA’s decision to update its position on the role of pharmacists in the management and dispensing of medical marijuana,” he added. Prior to this the organization balked at its member pharmacies taking part in the medical marijuana industry because it felt not enough was known about the effects of marijuana as a medication. It was also concerned about its pharmacies becoming a target for criminals looking to steal pot. Licensed producers Not surprisingly, those already licensed to distribute medical marijuana (licensed producers) are leery of the CPhA announcement. Denis Arsenault of "Their statement is a bit of a disservice to the reality that the LPs are currently servicing 50,000 customers across the country who are extremely happy with the service they are getting from our staff," Arsenault told "It's ironic because they wanted no part in being a stakeholder in the MMPR (2013 regulations)," he said. "The licensed producers have made investments with people and training, and now the pharmacy is saying they're the only ones who can handle this. "We've lived it on the front lines for three years," he added. "We've put the protocols in place. We've put the training in place. With the various strains and symptoms, there is a tremendous learning curve to be able to be trained to serve a patient properly." Arsenault went on to say there is room for current LPs and pharmacies in the dispensing business and that his hope was that the government keep the consumer in mind above all else. There has been no official reaction from the federal government to the announcement from CPhA. The Canadian Pharmacist Association (CPhA) represents independent pharmacies and provincial and national pharmaceutical groups across the country. The association has previously voiced a reluctance to have its member dispense medical marijuana for a variety of reasons.Its stance was the opposite of Shopper's Drug Mart in Canada — that chain has wanted for some time to take part in dispensing medical marijuana. The CPhA has now joined it in that position, citing "patient safety" as its reason for doing so.“Pharmacists are medication experts and play a critical role in the management and monitoring of medication to ensure safe and optimal use,” a press release Thursday from Phil Emberley, CPhA's Director of Professional Affairs, said.“And it is patient safety that is ultimately at the heart of CPhA’s decision to update its position on the role of pharmacists in the management and dispensing of medical marijuana,” he added.Prior to this the organization balked at its member pharmacies taking part in the medical marijuana industry because it felt not enough was known about the effects of marijuana as a medication. It was also concerned about its pharmacies becoming a target for criminals looking to steal pot.Not surprisingly, those already licensed to distribute medical marijuana (licensed producers) are leery of the CPhA announcement. Denis Arsenault of OraniGram , a licensed grower of organic medical marijuana, spoke to Civilized, an online medical marijuana news site."Their statement is a bit of a disservice to the reality that the LPs are currently servicing 50,000 customers across the country who are extremely happy with the service they are getting from our staff," Arsenault told Civilized "It's ironic because they wanted no part in being a stakeholder in the MMPR (2013 regulations)," he said. "The licensed producers have made investments with people and training, and now the pharmacy is saying they're the only ones who can handle this."We've lived it on the front lines for three years," he added. "We've put the protocols in place. We've put the training in place. With the various strains and symptoms, there is a tremendous learning curve to be able to be trained to serve a patient properly."Arsenault went on to say there is room for current LPs and pharmacies in the dispensing business and that his hope was that the government keep the consumer in mind above all else. There has been no official reaction from the federal government to the announcement from CPhA. More about medicial marijuana, medical pot, canadian pharmacies medicial marijuana medical pot canadian pharmacies