What are the legal issues involved in dispensing of pharmaceuticals over the Internet?
Pharmaceuticals are bought and sold over the Internet much in the same way as other commercial goods. A customer places an order, often through a questionnaire or order form, and then the goods are shipped to their home state from a multitude of possible locations. However, pharmaceuticals differ from other goods in that they are highly regulated by the Federal and state governments in both product and means of dispensation. Pharmaceuticals cannot be legally purchased without proof of a valid prescription. Safely purchasing pharmaceuticals over the internet requires the purchaser to carefully ensure the integrity of both the drugs she is purchasing and the pharmacist dispensing the product. Additionally, on the dispensation side, the pharmacist must comply with a host of legal requirements inapplicable to traditional brick and mortar pharmacies. To be a licensed pharmacy that dispenses drugs, both the pharmacy and pharmacist must be licensed by the state board of pharmacy. Internet sal
