Bill Would Prohibit Online Sale of Medications, Controlled Substances Without Valid Prescription
Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Thursday introduced legislation (S 3834) that would prohibit the online sale of prescription drugs and controlled substances without a valid prescription, CQ HealthBeat reports. The Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2006 would, among other provisions, establish criminal penalties for the unlawful dispensation of prescription drugs and permit the federal government to seize property used illegally by online pharmacies. In a statement, Sessions said, "Recently, the Internet has exploded with online pharmacies making sales without requiring a valid prescription or verifying the age or identity of the person buying the controlled substance." Feinstein in a statement said, "Dangerous narcotics are just a click away on the Internet. You don't need a prescription, a physical examination or a legitimate reason -- all you need is a credit card. This is a recipe for abuse" (CQ HealthBeat, 8/4).
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