In Texas marijuana is illegal under state and federal law. In other states the law allows marijuana though federal law prohibits it. Last December a driver who used alcohol and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was impaired & pulled over at 0200 (2 am). According to reports his "blood-alcohol content was at .155, just short of twice the legal limit. It also showed trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, the intoxicating component in marijuana." 

It is something to think about, as one reason to advocate marijuana decriminalization or legalization is the THC to reduce pain. Yet, it is also the THC which impairs one. So to anyone who smokes weed, don't smoke and drive, nor drink and drive. Tragically this combination led to a pharmacy student's death after being pulled over and shot by a policeman.

This is more tragic because a pharmacy student studies drugs and its effects on the body. though illegal substances aren't normally the scope of pharmacy school, legal ones are, including ethanol or alcohol. Judging by the amount of drinking that some of my peers did, knowledge doesn't always led to correct decisions of moderation of imbibing.

Source:http://www.dcclothesline.com/2014/03/23/autopsy-determines-texas-cop-fatally-shot-student-back/
'Autopsy determines Texas cop fatally shot student in back'

I'm continuing my monthly blog. My goal is to write one short summary or reflection in response to a pharmacy news story/stories.

Today is the filing deadline for US Taxpayers. It is the time to consider tips and altering one's behaviors based on the tax code. How does this relate to pharmacy? One retail chain is mulling changing its headquarters to lower its tax bill, just like Apple did.
Employees of Walgreens (WAG) may imitate employees of Giant Pharmacy whose company went from being a domestic corp to an international corp with a HQ overseas. Various investors commented that the US corporate tax of 37.5% was higher than Switzerland's 20%. If the company change occurs at least 1/5th of stock most be held by foreign investors.

Source: yahoo and telegraph though there's an article in businessweek too.

Reflections on Pharmacy: I felt really sad when I read this because I know ...

Reflections on Pharmacy: I felt really sad when I read this because I know ...: I felt really sad when I read this because I know what it is like to be in pain. When I had my wisdom teeth removed it was so painful I ha...

Blog reaction to DEA PR:

People respond to incentives. If you fine someone , it's a disincentive. If you can fire someone, it's a disincentive. At first I thought that the millions of dollars in Walgreens fines didn't matter as the company' analysis said "this will only affect share prices by a few cents." This led to many saying that the government did not fine Walgreens enough. Yet, then Walgreens roled out a plan to determine if a drug was "validly written." 

To the non-pharmacy workers of the world this was always a federal and state requirement. There are numerous times I have told patients that they are multiple days early and it couldn't be filled. One patient said to me, "I will have to come back in a day or two in order to pick it up. What's the difference between a couple days?"

The difference is whether I will lose my job. How will this happen? Will the state board feel I was reckless in dispensing? Will a federal agent come in, accuse me of aiding a drug addict? Will the police storm a store or hospital and demand to cuff myself, a subordinate, or a supervisor and take us away?

If I work for Walgreens or CVS will they fire me for dispensing this medicine? Will they say, "Sorry, this is coming out of your paycheck?"

Reaction to DEA PR [on enforcement of DEA regulations]:

People respond to incentives. If you fine someone , it's a disincentive. If you can fire someone, it's a disincentive. At first I thought that the millions of dollars in Walgreens fines didn't matter as the company stock' analysis said "this will only affect share prices by a few cents." This led to many health care workers and customers saying that the government did not fine Walgreens enough. Yet, then Walgreens roled out a plan to determine if a drug was "validly written." 

To the non-pharmacy workers of the world this was always a federal and state requirement. There are numerous times I have told patients that they are multiple days early and it couldn't be filled. One patient said to me, "I will have to come back in a day or two in order to pick it up. What's the difference between a couple days?" When I said that I would not give it to him early he got angry. 

There have been other people who ran out of their medicine early. When confronted that they were given a certain quantity and were only to take a certain amount per day it became obvious they took more than they were allowed to, but they did not appear to have any adverse effects other than fearing withdrawl symptoms.

The difference is whether I will lose my job. How will this happen? Will the state board feel I was reckless in dispensing? Will a federal agent come in, accuse me of aiding a drug addict? Will the police storm a store or hospital and demand to cuff myself, a subordinate, or a supervisor and take us away?

If I work for Walgreens or CVS will they fire me for dispensing this medicine? Will they say, "Sorry, this is coming out of your paycheck?"