My latest column at CNN.com:
Every once in a while, people get all crazy about the idea that some people might “import” drugs from Canada. Many pharmaceuticals are much cheaper in that country and many Americans, especially those who live on the border, are sometimes tempted to buy their drugs there.
Inevitably, when this topic comes up for debate, someone questions the safety of those drugs. This concern is somewhat overblown. Canada isn’t a banana republic, and it does a rather good job of ensuring the safety of its citizens without our help.
Moreover, it’s a concern that ignores that the vast, vast majority of drugs we buy here are not manufactured here. We import most of what we consume.
For some reason, we don’t seem to be as concerned about the safety of our drugs here are home. It turns out, though, that we might need to rethink that, according to a recent story in The New York Times.
