Florida Becomes First State to Win FDA Approval to Import Cheap Drugs From Canada

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Florida’s plan to import cheap drugs from Canada, making it the first state in the country to be granted the authorization to buy certain lower-cost medicines in bulk from outside the United States—sparking pushback from the pharmaceutical lobby. On Jan. 5, the FDA authorized Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration’s drug import program, which was backed by the Trump administration and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis but faced opposition from the pharmaceutical lobby and allegedly slow-rolled by federal regulators. Even though individuals can buy medications from Canadian pharmacies, where they’re often far cheaper, states have been fighting for permission to import drugs in bulk from wholesalers in Canada....