Shoppers issues job posting for medical marijuana brand manager

TORONTO Shoppers Drug Mart is looking to hire a medical marijuana brand manager as it tries to position itself in the burgeoning cannabis market, even though it is not currently legal to distribute the drug through pharmacies.

A job posting on the website of Canada’s largest pharmacy says the senior brand manager role will entail leading its strategy and marketing activities to doctors and health-care providers in the cannabis space.

“The development and integration of the medical brand plan will involve the consideration of the current cannabis market; legislation, regulations and access challenges,” the posting reads.

Shoppers adds that the winning candidate will also ensure that its medical pot marketing material is compliant with Health Canada regulations.

This comes after Shoppers’ parent company, Loblaw Companies Ltd. applied for a Health Canada licence to dispense medical marijuana in October 2016.

Under current federal regulations, the only legal distribution method for medical marijuana is by mail order from licensed producers direct to consumers.

That means even if the application gets the green light, it won’t be permitted to sell medical marijuana through its stores unless the federal government revises the rules.

Loblaw and Shoppers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.