Drugs

Austin-American Statesman: Bills would let Texans buy prescriptions from Canada

Two Houston Democrats on Wednesday touted legislation that they say would lower the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Texans to purchase their medicine from Canada.

The idea drew criticism from the pharmaceutical industry.

Two things. One, any American ought to have the freedom to buy the drugs he or she wants from any source he or she chooses. Just as with most economic choices, the more thought and preparation invested in the decision, the more likely the outcome will fulfill their desires. This means taking the advice of knowledgeable physicians and considering the quality, reliability, and expenses of both the drug and the provider.

Two, of course Big Pharma doesn't like the idea. The more restrictions they can get imposed on the drug market in favor of domestic companies, the better off they think they are.

Under the proposal, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy would license Canadian pharmacies to sell and ship prescription drugs directly to Texans. Those pharmacies would be required to meet the same safety standards as pharmacies that operate in Texas and would be subject to random inspections.

*sigh*

It's a marginal reduction in one form of protectionism and a significant increase in another.

"The rising cost of prescription drugs is a major fiscal crisis that could lead to a major health-care crisis in the state of Texas," said Sen. Rodney Ellis.

"Texans that can't keep up with skyrocketing prices are either going without much-needed medications or taking the more risky route of buying who-knows-what from who-knows-where over the Internet."

Senator Ellis, how is buying pharmaceuticals online from a source never met any different from buying used goods from a stranger on Ebay? There is no difference.

Why do you assume Texans are idiots who can't sniff out scams, bad deals, and shoddy products? And what the hell is wrong with risk?

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the drug industry's trade organization, is critical of the Texas proposal, saying that skirting U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules can create risks.

Copyright 2001-2005 Cox Texas Newspapers, L.P. All rights reserved.

These jerks have been feeding off a domestically walled-off market for so long that they'll resort to stupid arguments the moment their market dominance is threatened.

In other news: Medical marijuana defense proposed

Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, has filed a bill to create a defense for people treated by a licensed physician who use marijuana to ease the pain of a bona fide medical condition.

Here's one of those areas where I'm somewhat conflicted. On one hand, any cracks in the state's war against marijuana consumption and possession are very welcome. On the other, I think going the medical marijuana route is a bad way to do it.

"There is ample evidence that marijuana is beneficial to people suffering from the chronic and debilitating pain associated with cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis," Naishtat said.

House Bill 658 does not legalize marijuana but would allow a defendant to prove in court that all stipulated conditions for medical use had been met. A jury would hear the evidence and determine whether the person had a valid medical defense against prosecution for the use of marijuana.

This argument skirts the property rights issue and attempts to argue, in essence, by standing on one leg on a flimsy stool. It starts from the wrong premises and ends up wrecking the coherence of the person advocating it. Should "ample evidence" be published later on showing pot to be a net harm rather than a net benefit, it allows the politicians to come in and change the policy. Empiricism in government is as corrosive to freedom as someone who thinks a plurality of a population means he has the right to govern everyone in that population.

Only the full legalization and decriminalization of marijuana on the grounds of individual freedom makes the most sense. But since so many have been scared away from individual responsibility by government propaganda, it's hard to change minds who aren't already susceptible to the pull of liberty.

In May, the Texas Medical Association adopted a policy supporting the right of physicians to discuss all treatment options, including medical marijuana, with their patients without fear of regulatory, disciplinary or criminal sanctions. The bill also would offer protections for doctors who discuss marijuana as a treatment option.

Copyright 2001-2005 Cox Texas Newspapers, L.P. All rights reserved.

That particular part of the bill would be a definite positive. Doctors should never be sanctioned for merely discussing uncommon or non-traditional treatments for a patient's problems.

Heh, and while I'm on pot, it seems not even the local cops can get past the economics of the situation.

Posted by Drizzten at February 17, 2005 10:40 AM