Drug Companies Cracking Down On Canadian Pharmacies Selling To U.S.

Drug Companies Cracking Down On Canadian Pharmacies Selling To U.S.

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Story Published: Mar 2, 2004 at 3:29 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:25 AM PDT

By Leslie Knopp

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MARYSVILLE - Chere Hazen says there's no way she could afford her life-saving medicine, if she didn't get it in Canada. So every three months, she drives from Marysville to Canada to buy it.

"I'm saving hundreds for sure, for sure!" she said.

Chelle Davidson hears stories like Chere's every week. The Bellingham business she helps manage, Can Drug USA, sells Canadian prescription drugs to Americans online. She has 7,000 customers.

"Nobody has called and asked, 'Are my drugs safe?' "said Chelle. Customers aren't worried, but the FDA is.

The federal government and pharmaceutical companies continue to warn you should not buy prescription drugs online, as they could be unsafe. "That's absolutely not true if you use a legitimate, licensed pharmacy," said Chelle.

But some pharmaceutical companies are getting tough. Monday, Pfizer stopped shipments to two Canadian wholesalers, accusing them of supplying pharmacies that sell to Americans.

"I think it's stupid. It all comes down to, 'You're getting in my pocket and taking my profits.' That's all it is," argues Chere.

The threats don't seem to be stopping anyone. It's now estimated nearly 4 million people get their prescription drugs outside the U.S., either online or driving north to Canada.

"I don't think people are just going to roll over and just say, 'OK, you're not going to allow me to do that anymore, so I'll go back to paying three times as much as I do now for my asthma medication or my high cholesterol medication,' " said Chelle.

Chelle says her business is growing and as far as she can tell, local patients are digging in their heels.

"I'll be 80 in a couple of months, and if you think you're going to take my medicine you're going to have a fight on your hands!" said Chere.

For her, it's a life and death fight.

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