Drug Companies Fight Maine's Efforts to Let Residents Buy from Canada

Lawsuit to protect business interests

BANGOR, Maine (CN)—Maine enacted a law to make it easier for residents to buy prescription drugs from neighboring Canada, and the pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry responded with a lawsuit calling it unconstitutional.

The industry claims Maine's "Importation Law," approved in June and set to take effect Oct. 9, poses "serious health risks to consumers" and violates the Foreign Commerce Clause and the Supremacy Clause.

The plaintiffs scrupulously avoid the word "profits" in the 27-page federal lawsuit.

Lead plaintiff Charles Ouellette is the owner-operator of a pharmacy in Fort Kent.

Joining as plaintiffs are the Maine Pharmacy Association, the Maine Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Retail Association of Maine, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and Amelia Arnold, a pharmacist in Augusta.