subject: Is Buying From A Canadian Pharmacy Illegal? [print this page] Is Buying From A Canadian Pharmacy Illegal?
If you feel confused about the legality of ordering prescription drugs from a Canadian pharmacy there are two pieces of information that would give you some relief:
According to a US customs report, nearly 22 million packages of prescription drugs come into US annually. Out of these, 20 million packages arrive by post from a Canadian pharmacy.
A Washington Past survey says, 45% of Americans are confused about the legality status of ordering drugs from a Canadian pharmacy.
This article shall clear the air on the legal aspects of this issue. Canadian Pharmacy Contrast: State Government Behavior vs. Federal Laws The Law: The Federal Law maintains a clear stance on the issue. As per Section 301 (aa) of the FDA act, import of controlled substances to United States is prohibited, even for non-commercial use. Importing drugs which do not have an approved American substitute is legal though. But in case there exists an American version of the prescribed drug, it would be deemed illegal for import. Since the Federal law has laid down the rules clearly, you might start to think that there is no confusion at all. The confusion arises when we take into account the behavior of the State governments regarding import of drugs from a Canada pharmacy. State Government Action: There seems to be no manifestation of the federal decree in the State's behavior towards import of prescription drugs from a Canadian pharmacy. States like Nevada, Illinois and Wisconsin have had state-run programs for years which assist military personnel, retirees and the common public in importing prescribed drugs from Canadian pharmacy. So the confusion ensues: Is the State violating Federal Laws? In day to day life, there seems to be no glitches in the process of ordering drugs through an online Canadian pharmacy. This is why 22 million packages come into the US each year despite the federal decree?
Canadian Pharmacy: Purchase of Drugs for Personal Use Many states in the US have addressed the issue of importing drugs from Canada in a very mature fashion. They have laid down laws that allow purchase of prescription drugs from a Canadian pharmacy if the following basic ordering parameters are met:
The drugs should meet the US standards of dosage and safety.
Some states have set upper limits on the order quantity. The condition governing most order ceilings is: the order quantity should not exceed 90 days of supplies.
Some states require the patient to have been prescribed the drug in past.
Notwithstanding the regulation, Every Canadian pharmacy has its own set of offers and services to keep their customers in US happy. Some pharmacies offer reminder services on refills of prescription meds. Other pharmacies take it to the next level and offer for a small premium, fast shipping. This service becomes very important when patients forget to order and discover that they have run out of their prescribed medicines. By deciding not to bulge under the pressure of laws and making their services more efficient and faster, the pharmaceutical industry of Canada has overcome the adverse situation.
