Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008

A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to address online pharmacies.

4/1/2008--Passed Senate amended. Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to prohibit the delivery, distribution, or dispensing of controlled substances over the Internet without a valid prescription. Exempts telemedicine practitioners. Defines "valid prescription" as a prescription that is issued for a legitimate purpose by a practitioner who has conducted at least one in-person medical evaluation of the patient. Adds definitions to the Controlled Substances Act relating to online pharmacies and the issuance of prescriptions over the Internet.
Imposes registration and reporting requirements on online pharmacies.
Requires an online pharmacy to:
(1) display on its Internet homepage a statement that it complies with the requirements of this Act;
(2) comply with state laws for the licensure of pharmacies in each state in which it operates or sells controlled substances;
(3) post on its Internet homepage specified information, including the name, address, and telephone number of the pharmacy, the qualifications of its pharmacist-in-charge, and a certification of its registration under this Act; and
(4) notify the Attorney General and applicable state boards of pharmacy at least 30 days prior to offering to sell, deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances over the Internet.
Authorizes the Attorney General to issue a special registration under this Act for telemedicine practitioners.
Increases criminal penalties involving controlled substances in Schedules II, IV, and V of the Controlled Substances Act. Authorizes states to apply for injunctions or obtain damages and other civil remedies against online pharmacies that are deemed a threat to state residents.
Requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission, in determining whether to amend or establish new sentencing guidelines to conform the guidelines and policy statements to this Act, to consult with the Department of Justice (DOJ), experts, and other affected parties concerning which penalties for scheduled substances should be reflected.
Requires the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to report to Congress after the enactment of this Act and annually for two years after such initial report on:
(1) the foreign supply chains and sources of controlled substances offered for sale without a valid prescription on the Internet;
(2) DEA efforts and strategy to decrease such foreign supply chains; and
(3) DEA efforts to work with domestic and multinational pharmaceutical companies and others in combating the sale of controlled substances over the Internet without a valid prescription.


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Sponsor

• Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
• and 5 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Joseph Biden [D, DE]
  • Sen. Norm Coleman [R, MN]
  • Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]
  • Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT]
  • Sen. Jefferson Sessions [R, AL]
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Committees

• House Judiciary
• 2 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • Senate Judiciary
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Amendments

This bill has 1 amendments. See All AmendmentsHide All Amendments

Amendments to S.980

Number	Status	Purpose
S.Amdt.4383	Pass	In the nature of a substitute.

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
March 23, 2007		April 01, 2008

Show All Actions (17 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Apr 02, 2008: Received in the House.
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to House Judiciary
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
• Apr 02, 2008: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• Apr 02, 2008: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• Passed by Unanimous Consent in the Senate on Apr 01, 2008. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
• Apr 01, 2008: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
• Apr 01, 2008: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
• Added to calendar on Mar 12, 2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 617..
• Mar 12, 2008: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
• Sep 27, 2007: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
• Sep 27, 2007: Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-226. 10:00 a.m.
• Sep 27, 2007: Committee on the Judiciary. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-226. 10:00 a.m.
• May 16, 2007: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
• Mar 23, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• Mar 23, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3712-3713)
• Introduced on Mar 23, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.6353

Related Issue Areas:

• Criminal justice
• Actions and defenses
• Administrative procedure
• Business
• 24 more
• Consumer education
• Consumers
• Damages
• Department of Justice
• Drug abuse
• Drug law enforcement
• Drugs
• Electronic commerce
• Executive departments
• Forfeiture
• Injunctions
• Internet
• Law
• Licenses
• Medical care
• Medicine
• Pharmacies
• Sentencing guidelines
• State and local government
• State laws
• Technology
• Telecommunication
• U.S. Sentencing Commission
• Web sites

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

March 05, 2008 HDMA Supports Administration's Call To Combat Illegal Online Sales ...

Introduced by Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL), S. 980 would help address the growing problem of these illegal Internet pharmacies. ...

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Source: Medical News Today (press release), UK

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March 03, 2008 Press Briefing by Director of the Office of National Drug Control ...

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, S.980, sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein of California and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, ...

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Source: All American Patriots (press release), Sweden

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March 01, 2008 POR AGENCIAS: Agencia IBNW

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, S.980, sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein of California and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, ...

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Source: InfoBolsa, Spain

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Blog Coverage

May 06, 2008 Distribution

... HDMA has formally endorsed the Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act (S. Introduced by Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL), S. 980 would help address the growing problem of these illegal Internet pharmacies.4 ...

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Source: instahippo

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April 28, 2008 HDMA Supports Administration's Call To Combat Illegal Online Sales ...

In encouragement of ongoing pains to support block the illegal online civil sale of prescription medicines, HDMA have on the text endorsed the Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act (S. 980). Introduced by scheme of Senators Diane ...

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Source: Pain Medicine News

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March 16, 2008 HDMA Supports Administration’s Call To Combat Illegal Online Sales ...

In support of ongoing efforts to help prevent the illegal online sale of prescription medicines, HDMA has formally endorsed the Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act (S. 980). Introduced by [...]

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Source: Medical Health Articles

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