WP | Illinois Governor Launching Program to Reimport Drugs

[Shallah Kali]

Move May Force FDA's Hand
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6376-2004Aug16.html

Despite opposition from a federal agency, Illinois will soon become the nation's first government to help residents buy cheaper drugs not only from Canada but from the United Kingdom and Ireland as well.

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"It may come down to us going to a federal judge for a ruling on this, to make clear that the law means what it says," Hubbard said. "We have here a state taking the further step to induce people to buy drugs from Canada and the United Kingdom, something we consider to be both illegal and unsafe."

(snip)

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) has co-sponsored legislation, which has passed the House but not yet the Senate, that would legalize drug importing from Canada and 25 other nations. He said this past weekend that American consumers need access to European markets because some large drug companies have begun to limit supplies of their medications to Canada.

(snip)

In recent weeks, the issue has become part of the presidential campaign, with the Democratic nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), voicing support for allowing imports from Canada and elsewhere.

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This is one more reason I am for Kerry and against Bush. Too many people with serious illnesses are scraping by trying to afford necessary medications. This isn't a luxury but a necessity.