Sunday, March 21, 2004

From the Globe and Mail:
Certified marijuana may be made available in pharmacies
Health Canada plans to make government-certified marijuana available in pharmacies, a move that could rapidly boost the number of registered medical users.

Officials are organizing a pilot project in British Columbia, modelled on a year-old program in the Netherlands, that would allow medical users to buy marijuana at their local drugstore.

From the Baltimore Jewish Times:
Israel Part Of Cheap Drug Imports Issue
The increasingly prevalent -- and questionable -- practice of obtaining federally approved drugs from online business brokers is spilling over into the Jewish community.

Over the last several months, companies that procure discounted prescription medications from Israel and other foreign countries have placed advertisements in Jewish newspapers (including the Atlanta Jewish Times) and sent promotional material to Jewish membership organizations, proposing to offer the public a way to support Israel's economy while also saving money. In turn, consumers who rely on a heavy volume of medication to treat chronic conditions including high blood pressure, depression and diabetes are flocking to the Web sites to purchase their drugs and support small businesses.

From the Contra Costa (CA) Times:
Consumer advocates push for drug imports
Legalizing the importation of U.S.-made drugs from other countries, while not a long-term solution to the problem of high-priced prescription drugs, is an important first step in making medicines more affordable, consumer advocates told a government task force Friday.

From the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press:
REIMPORTED DRUGS: FDA blasts Web site
The federal government ripped Gov. Jim Doyle Thursday for helping Wisconsin citizens import cheaper but illegal Canadian prescription drugs through a state Web site.

The letter to Doyle reflects the still-simmering tension between the federal government, which maintains foreign drugs are illegal and dangerous to consumers, and states trying to give their residents relief from skyrocketing domestic prices.

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