Originally published January 20 2005
Texans might start looking to Canada, -- not Mexico -- for cheap prescription drugs
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Quick trips to Mexico for cheap prescription drugs have become an underground tradition for many Texans. But now a state lawmaker wants to change thinks a little. The Houston Democrat wants to let Texans legally do their international drug shopping via mail --from Canada. Following a new national craze for low-price medicines, many Texas have already begun ordering drugs from Canada via the Internet.
Many Texans for years have sought cheaper prescription drugs by crossing the border into Mexico, an option often considered unsafe and inconvenient except for those living close to the Rio Grande.
Now, importing less-expensive prescription drugs could move from Mexico to the mailbox under a bill filed by state Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston.
Hochberg's bill would allow the state to license pharmacies approved by the Canadian government so they can ship prescription drugs to Texans.
A Texas resident would be limited to purchasing no more than a three-month supply of any one drug at one time.
Hochberg said he was motivated to file the legislation because many of his constituents are responding to Internet ads for cheap drugs from Canada.
The report said about a million people in this country are purchasing drugs from Canadian pharmacies.
The I-Save Rx importation plan uses select Canadian and British pharmacies that have agreed to state regulation and inspection.
Data from the program shows that consumers can save dramatically by purchasing prescriptions from foreign sources.
For instance, a three-month supply of the blood thinner Plavix costs $397 in the United States, but $257 in the United Kingdom and $213 in Canada.
Hochberg said he modeled his bill --- House Bill 173 --- after a similar state program, Minnesota RxConnect.
Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said the governor is considering the I-Save RX program but is not ready to commit to anything.
Moebius said that in some cases, drugs are shipped from other countries and "sit on a dock in Canada just long enough to be called Canadian."
"Because they (Canadians) have price controls, the American consumer has to pick up an unfair share of the research and development costs.
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