Here’s How You Could Collect Optimum Points On Medical Weed At Shoppers Drug Mart

    The most important question.

    Lauren Strapagiel
    by Lauren Strapagiel

    BuzzFeed News Reporter

    Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's largest pharmacy chain, is seeking approval to distribute medical marijuana. With more than 1,300 locations across the country, that's a lot of pot.

    Graeme Roy / THE CANADIAN PRESS

    iPolitics reported Tuesday the company applied to the Government of Canada to be a licensed distributor under the Health Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations.

    Although the license would also grant them production permissions, company spokesperson Tammy Smitham told iPolitics they only intend to dispense marijuana. She also said the company believes dispensing from pharmacies "would increase access, safety, quality, and security for the thousands of Canadians who use the drug as part of their medication therapy.”

    If approved, the move begs a very important question. Does this mean people can earn those sweet, sweet Optimum points on weed?

    Mélange Knowles @melissahaute

    The real question is whether or not Optimum points will apply to purchases... https://t.co/FdPtA3Ub0u

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    People are very excited by the prospect.

    Orange Soda @IHateCheetos

    Shoppers wants to sell weed and fucking right my ass is getting an optimum card yup yup I collect points on that shit mhm

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    And clearly already have big plans.

    Big Kris @bigkrisradiodj

    Shoppers Drug Mart wants to distribute weed? I'm going to be the Scrooge McDuck of optimum points

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    The short answer is probably! But it depends on where you are.

    Comedy Central

    Whether or not you can collect Optimum points on prescription purchases depends on provincial regulations and health insurance plans.

    For those in Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland, you can't collect any points.

    But, according to Shoppers, people in British Columbia can collect points on the portion of the bill not covered by provincial healthcare. In Prince Edward Island, you can collect on the portion you pay yourself after insurance.

    Shoppers' Optimum rewards program allows people to collect points on prescription purchases, except for those in Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland.

    For the rest of the country, Shoppers' website says "all other provinces allow customers to earn points on the full price of prescription purchases."

    If you want to get crafty, however, there's another way.

    David Mcnew / Reuters

    If you really, really want the thrill of earning points for pot, you could always collect the points from purchasing a gift card, then use that gift card to pay for the prescription.

    So, it's almost like getting points.

    So the answer to whether you can collect Optimum points on pot is a theoretical yes if the rules don't change. Rejoice, Canada.

    Republic/BuzzFeed Canada