The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Robinson Report: State Auditor Matt Dunlap on Challenging Jared Golden in CD-2, No-Bid Contracts, and the 2024 Audit [WATCH]
  • Both Maine Legislative Chambers Pass Bill to Allow Prescribers of Abortion Pills to Conceal Their Identities
  • Maine Agencies Funneled Grants to Nonprofits Tied to Dark Money Front’s Voter Outreach Campaign, “New Mainer” Groups and Top Level Democrats
  • LePage Leads Golden in CD2 Race According to Congressional Leadership Fund Poll
  • Rolling the Dice on Wyss: Is Anyone at the Maine Trust for Local News Worried About Alleged Benefactor’s Sexual Harassment Suit? No Comment…
  • Bernie Sanders Endorses Troy Jackson for Maine Governor
  • Bill Providing Millions of Dollars for Maine’s Community Colleges Unanimously Rejected in Augusta
  • SCOTUS Disregards AG Aaron Frey’s Counsel, Raising Questions About the Usefulness of his Grand Crusading
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Wednesday, May 21
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
The Maine Wire
Home » News » News » Court Ruling: Mainers Can’t Buy Drugs from Foreign Pharmacies
News

Court Ruling: Mainers Can’t Buy Drugs from Foreign Pharmacies

Patrick MarvinBy Patrick MarvinFebruary 25, 2015Updated:March 2, 20153 Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Torrensen ruled that federal law prohibits Maine residents from buying prescription drugs from other countries.

Her ruling invalidates a 2013 Maine law which had allowed residents to purchase international drugs via the internet, often at a sizable discount.

Under the Maine law, residents were able to buy prescription drugs from pharmacies in four other countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. These countries, which have similar safety protections and regulations as the U.S., often charge less for drugs due to contracts with pharmaceutical companies.

However, Torrenson declared that while U.S. resident are free to purchase drugs across state lines, federal law prohibits them from importing drugs from outside the U.S.

Her decision was applauded by the plaintiffs who had challenged the Maine law – the Maine Pharmacy Association and the Retail Association of Maine.

These groups intensely lobbied against the law before it was passed in 2013, claiming that it would create a serious public health and safety hazard. After it easily made it through the legislature and was signed into law by the governor, the group then filed the federal lawsuit.

Curtis Picard, of the Retail Association of Maine, told the Portland Press Herald that “we believe the court ruled correctly. All along, we warned that the law violated federal laws and this ruling proves that. Maine people can be assured that the prescriptions that are filled by Maine pharmacists are approved medications.”

But former state Senator Troy Jackson, the sponsor of the 2013 bill, pointed out that this ruling only makes it more difficult for struggling and ill Mainers who are unable to afford expensive and often live-saving medication.

Jackson explained to the Portland Press Herald that “there is a lot more at stake for people trying to battle the crushing costs of prescription drugs.”

Although data is not available on the number of Maine residents who took advantage of the Maine law, this ruling nonetheless represents a significant victory for Maine pharmacies and retailers in the battle for prescription drug customers.

“The pharmaceutical industry wins these things 10 out of 10 times, so I’m not surprised,” Jackson said.

There is no word yet on whether or not the state will appeal this decision.

court Featured health care Maine pharmacy prescription drugs
Previous ArticleProblems Continue to Plague Obamacare
Next Article Maine Shouldn’t Waste Time on the Labrador Retriever
Patrick Marvin

Patrick Marvin is a former Policy Analyst for The Maine Heritage Policy Center. He holds a Masters Degree from the University of New Hampshire, and has an extensive background in analysis and research.

Subscribe to Substack

Related Posts

Robinson Report: State Auditor Matt Dunlap on Challenging Jared Golden in CD-2, No-Bid Contracts, and the 2024 Audit [WATCH]

May 21, 2025

Both Maine Legislative Chambers Pass Bill to Allow Prescribers of Abortion Pills to Conceal Their Identities

May 21, 2025

Maine Agencies Funneled Grants to Nonprofits Tied to Dark Money Front’s Voter Outreach Campaign, “New Mainer” Groups and Top Level Democrats

May 21, 2025

<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="9962 http://www.themainewire.com/?p=9962">3 Comments

  1. Matt Ellen Libby on February 26, 2015 11:06 AM

    My Crestor 90 pills was $92 from Canada. $680 in Maine. Exact same pill and dose!! Free market?

  2. Greg Gosselin on February 27, 2015 12:21 AM

    This is all about lining big business and Corporate Profits and not about the affordability of prescription drugs for Mainers! Many of us will have to forego our medications now.

  3. zoritoler imol on May 27, 2023 9:20 AM

    Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.

Leave A Reply

Subscribe to Substack
Recent News

Both Maine Legislative Chambers Pass Bill to Allow Prescribers of Abortion Pills to Conceal Their Identities

May 21, 2025

Maine Agencies Funneled Grants to Nonprofits Tied to Dark Money Front’s Voter Outreach Campaign, “New Mainer” Groups and Top Level Democrats

May 21, 2025

LePage Leads Golden in CD2 Race According to Congressional Leadership Fund Poll

May 21, 2025

Bernie Sanders Endorses Troy Jackson for Maine Governor

May 21, 2025

Bill Providing Millions of Dollars for Maine’s Community Colleges Unanimously Rejected in Augusta

May 21, 2025
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.