Bill to allow pharmacies to re-import drugs passes state Senate

Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 6:09 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Senate backs a drug re-importation plan that would permit state pharmacies to obtain US-made prescription drugs from Canada and elsewhere for sale here.

The Federal Drug Administration has opposed drug re-importation bills, claiming they violate the Interstate Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. Those measures mainly deal with allowing individuals to obtain re-imported drugs.

Tulsa state Senator Tom Adelson says his legislation avoids that legal question because it would require pharmacies to sell re-imported medicines only to Oklahomans in intrastate, not interstate, commerce.

Most programs are geared to allowing individuals obtain such drugs by crossing the border into Canada or buying drugs online.

A similar bill was introduced last year at the urging of Democratic Governor Brad Henry, but it died in a joint conference committee.

This year, Republican state Representative Kris Steele of Shawnee is the bill's state House author.