Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn (R) on Friday signed legislation... (SB 5) that will help state residents purchase prescription drugs from Canada, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports. The Nevada Board of Pharmacy in October will begin inspecting and licensing Canadian pharmacies that will be listed on a state-run Web site. The board has received about half a dozen license applications from Canadian pharmacies. The law includes a provision stipulating that only FDA-approved drugs can be purchased (Hennessey, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 6/20). Under the law, which takes effect July 1, state residents can purchase a 90-day supply of medications. The state Office for Consumer Health Assistance will establish a Web site to help residents make the purchases (Ryan, Las Vegas Sun, 6/21). Valerie Rosalin, director of the office, said that she hopes to have the Web site established by Nov. 1 (Whaley, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 6/21). Guinn initially said he would not sign the bill unless safety could be assured and the legislation did not violate federal law. Nevada joins eight other states and the District of Columbia "in open revolt against" President Bush's reimportation policies, the AP/Sun reports. FDA Associate Commissioner Randall Lutter last month sent a letter to Guinn stating that drug reimportation "would violate the (Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act) in virtually every instance." John Trent, a spokesperson for Guinn, said the governor does not believe the law is a statement of opposition to federal policy. "He thinks this is a good piece of legislation, and he supports it," Trent said, adding, "It seems as if all the safeguards that needed to be built in have been built in." Guinn agreed to sign the bill, which was backed by Assembly Democrats, after Democrats agreed to support his $300 million tax rebate plan (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 6/20).

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