Canadian cannabis producer Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: ALEF) announced Thursday it will be providing home delivery service for patients in the country’s most densely populated region.
The Ontario-based company said it expects to launch next-day medical cannabis delivery for patients in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe Region (GGHR) during the next two weeks.
The GGHR is home to over nine million people, which accounts for more than one-fifth of Canada’s entire population.
Aleafia Health is excited to launch its last-mile medical cannabis home delivery service to provide safe and contactless delivery for patients. Learn more: https://t.co/gJxttMqoC1 #WeGrowTogether pic.twitter.com/1nqzIjjSi2
— AleafiaHealth (@AleafiaHealth) March 26, 2020
Aleafia said that by directly delivering cannabis products to patients’ homes, patient safety will increase by reducing interactions at stores and post offices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company told Mugglehead it will provide more details on how it plans to offer “contactless delivery” to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, Aleafia could not give further information before press time.
The company said it plans to expand its delivery service to other Canadian markets, and the eventual rollout of same-day delivery.
“By controlling the last mile of our supply chain, we are providing a unique service to patients who want fast, secure and convenient access to their medicine,” Aleafia CEO Geoffrey Benic said in a press release. “Adapting to this challenging environment is critical.”
In addition to home delivery, earlier this month the company transitioned to conducting all patient consultations remotely by phone, Benic added.
Aleafia stock rose over 15 per cent on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday.
Read more: Aleafia reports first-ever positive adjusted EBITDA
Cannabis delivery needed across Canada, advocates say
In Canada, only Saskatchewan and Manitoba allow same-day cannabis delivery.
Only two provinces allow for same day cannabis delivery. With millions of Canadians at home due to #Covid19, provincial governments should remove the barriers prohibiting same day cannabis delivery so consumers can order legal #cannabis like they do food and alcohol. #Cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/JCUwveilbd
— David Clement (@ClementLiberty) March 18, 2020
Advocates have recently called on other provinces to green light same-day delivery to help combat against the spread of COVID-19.
The Ontario Cannabis Store has been experimenting with same-day delivery in a few Greater Toronto Area municipalities.
Alberta and Ontario offer provincially-run online cannabis ordering and delivery services. But shipments are carried out by Canada Post.
Canada Post implemented its own safety measures March 15 in which mail carriers will no longer ask for a signature for customer packages. Canada Post’s safe-drop process means your carrier will leave these items in your mailbox or outside your door if it’s safe to do so.
Read more: When the world can’t come to weed, retailers create new ways to get weed to the world
Top image via Deposit Photos
jared@mugglehead.com
@JaredGnam
