U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has been a champion for lower drug costs. So why is she co-sponsoring a Senate bill backed by Big Pharma?
The DRUGS Act states that it is, “To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide a process to lock and suspend domain names used to facilitate the online sale of drugs illegally, and for other purposes.”
Under the Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1987, technically, it is illegal for anyone other than the original manufacturer to bring prescription drugs into the U.S. At present, officials look the other way for small quantities. If enforced, the new bill could close access for U.S. citizens to all Canadian pharmacy websites. Why not include legalizing purchases of Canadian drugs in the bill? Because Big Pharma would not approve.
The pretense of S.3399 is to curb opioid sales. But the bill makes no distinction between licensed pharmacies that don’t even sell opioids and rogue pharmacies. The bill does not mention fentanyl or opioids.
Klobuchar has been lead author of the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act. This bill could shut down access to affordable drugs and hurt Minnesota seniors in particular.
Please contact Sen. Klobuchar and ask her to rewrite this bill to make Canadian drug purchases legal and to go after illegal opioid sales. As written, it is just another attempt by Big Pharma to control drug prices.
Mary Arps Thompson
Brimson
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