Connecticut Legislature Passes Medical Marijuana Bill, Act Would Require Dispensing by Pharmacists
A bill (HB 5389) legalizing the use of medical marijuana by certain patients in Connecticut under strict requirements passed in the Connecticut Legislature on May 4, 2012. Under the act, doctors will need to certify patients’ medical need for the drug before it will be dispensed, and patients and their caregivers must register with the […]
Read More ›Washington Legislature Passes Bills Related to Practice of Pharmacy
The following bills passed in Washington State’s 2012 legislative session and may be of interest to the practice of pharmacy. HB1486 – This bill was reintroduced from 2010. The bill permits Washington State pharmacists to dispense controlled substance prescriptions written by out-of-state advanced registered nurse practitioners and amends RCW.69.50.101. This bill becomes effective June 7, […]
Read More ›North Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Takes Action to Stop Illegal Internet Sales of Tramadol to State’s Residents
The North Dakota State Board of Pharmacy has taken action against three out-of-state pharmacies for illegally selling tramadol via Internet sites to North Dakota residents, as reported by The Jamestown Sun. The three pharmacies – located in Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey – sold tramadol to North Dakota residents without requiring valid prescriptions based on […]
Read More ›Unapproved Drug Products Seized by US Marshals from Missouri Distributor as Part of FDA Action
Federal marshals seized more than 1,600 containers of products held by Notions-n-Things Distribution of Bogard, MO, that allegedly violate FDA approval and labeling requirements. Three products were seized from the distributor: “Chickweed Healing Salve, allegedly marketed as a skin cancer treatment containing comfrey; To-Mor-Gone, which allegedly claims to cure cancer and other diseases; and R.E.P., […]
Read More ›Gil Kerlikowske, Director of ONDCP, to Speak on the National Drug Plan to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse at the NABP 108th Annual Meeting
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is pleased to welcome Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) as a speaker at its 108th Annual Meeting. Kerlikowske will discuss how the prescription drug abuse epidemic is affecting the people of the United States and what the federal government is […]
Read More ›Federal Legislation Takes Aim at Prescription Counterfeits, Illegal Internet Drug Distribution
Originally published in the April 2012 NABP Newsletter In 2011, counterfeit pharmaceuticals made up the largest portion of seized items in the Consumer Safety and Technology category, at 28% when ranked by domestic value, as reported by United States Customs and Border Protection. Through its own research, NABP has identified 3,845 Web sites selling drugs […]
Read More ›Online Pharmacy Safety Act Introduced to US House
A House version of the Online Pharmacy Safety Act of 2011 (HB 4095) was introduced to the US House by Representative Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on February 28, 2012. The Hill reports that Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and John Cornyn (R-TX) expressed support of the Senate version (SB 2002) of the bill, which was introduced by […]
Read More ›Federal Bill Would Prevent State Inspections of Drugs and Devices if FDA Required Inspections Completed
Representative Brian Bilbray (R-CA) introduced a bill to the US House that would prevent states from requiring inspections of drug or device manufacturers, packagers, or distributors that are duplicative to inspections required by FDA. The Science and Technology Regulatory Relief Act of 2012 (HR 4056) would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to […]
Read More ›Federal Judge Rules Washington State Emergency Contraception Dispensing Requirement is Unconstitutional
A Washington State regulation requiring pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives was declared to be unconstitutional by US district court Judge Ronald B. Leighton because it violates pharmacists’ right to conscientious objection. The ruling is part of Leighton’s decision in a lawsuit to block the regulation brought by a drugstore owner and two of his pharmacists […]
Read More ›Regulators and Stakeholders Intensify Efforts to Target Rogue Internet Drug Outlets
With prescription drug counterfeiters and illegal online drug sellers demonstrating their persistence throughout 2011, regulators and other stakeholders have stepped up efforts to fight Internet drug outlets as highlighted in the NABP Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: January 2012 (PDF). As explained in the report, multiple groups have […]
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