(Washington state) House passes bill to license Canadian pharmacies

[struggle4progress]

2005-02-26
by Rebecca Cook
Associated Press

OLYMPIA -- In an effort to make it easier for people to buy cheaper prescription drugs in Canada, the state House passed a bill Friday directing the state Health Department to license Canadian pharmacies.

Canadian price controls and a favorable exchange rate enable U.S. consumers to buy some medications there for half price or less. <snip>

If the bill passes in the Senate and is signed by the governor, the state Health Department will try to create a reciprocal licensing agreement with Canada, such as Washington has with other states -- saying that both accept and recognize the other's pharmacy licenses. Failing that, state workers would personally visit, inspect and license Canadian pharmacies that do mail-order or Internet business with Washington residents. <snip>

... supporters of the bill said they trust Canadian regulators as much, if not more, than those in the United States. <snip>

http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/187020

[merwin]

1. Ain't Washington grand? I love this state :-)

[Rainscents]

2. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

I love my State!!! Most republicans are crying fowl over this. Good thing, we have Majority House and Senate Democrats! Of course, we also have democrat Governor! She is the one who had pushed for this.

[baby_bear]

5. Why do the Republicans of WA State object?

We don't have a large pharmaceutical industry/ constituency here.

I don't get it.

b_b

[leftofcool]

3. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeze..................

Goddess, let this bill pass.

Left of Cool

[billyoc]

4. Ha! Good on them.

No state should even *recognize* the FDA anymore, the way they've been bought and paid for by the Pharma industry.