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knowa2 says:
If you cant patent it, then there is not the big money in it so big pharma will block. These parent might consider moving to one of the 17 state that have approved CANNABIS although the US government owns a patent on the medical benefits of cannabis I don't know if they have assign or licensed the patent to big Pharma yet. Before the prohibitionist changed it prior to 1937 there were 17 pages in the American Pharmacopia.
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FrustratedMichiganCitizen says:
The most likely reason our congress hasn't passed this law is because our elected representatives are probably trying to figure out how they can individually profit from their vote.

After they have purchased their stocks or other investments that will profit from their vote, they will get this passed in a heartbeat.

Your child is worth nothing to them but the stock market is.

Vote them all out as soon as possible.
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gemayer3373 replies:
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Did any one else notes that the guy did not get any real answer but just sort of agreed with the people who dubbled talked him well ok American I am as dim as you all are so let it go.
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FAPatrick says:
Congress should be ashamed of themselves! These types of answers are unacceptable. It's time to bring people in that will change the narrow minded thinking that it's always been done this way to we will get things accomplished in a faster way.
How many kickbacks are our representatives getting from the drug companies so that the prices can be increased for vital life saving drugs to create this type of shortage?
UNBELIEVABLE!
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robert1129 says:
When the leaders of both parties say, "that is the way it has always been", then it is way past time to replace them. We desperately need term limits.
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inmom63 says:
If Barack Obama, John Boehner or Harry Reid's child/grandchild had cancer I bet something would be done tomorrow!!!! How much would you like to wager on that??
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rwsmith29456 says:
All you have to do is decrease supply and demand goes up and therefore price. Simple economics. Drug companies know parents will spend everything they've got to save their children's lives. Tell the board of directors that we really have them over a barrel.
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irreverentasever says:
We should be importing prescription drugs from Canada, China and Mexico.
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sandiegopete says:
Harry Reid is in so many pockets he can't keep them all straight. Perhaps if the families of the sick children could put together enough money they could influence our legislators as much as the pharmaceutical companies do. As anyone knows, Washington is a pay to play governmental system.
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marceem replies:
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You mention Harry Reid, How about John Bohener? I had to howl when Bohener was asked about the drug shortages he went into his over-used, weary retort: "What the President doing about this matter?" Well, Speaker Boehener, some of us Independents are paying attention. At least the President,prompted by the Republicans inaction, signed Executive Order 13588 in October 2011 directing the Food and Drug Administration to take action. The House and Senate are useless with their foot dragging.
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sdemaggie says:
Why is Congress involved in this? This is an issue the market will solve.
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sjc_1 replies:
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The market is not liable, they go after profits. They are making profits elsewhere, but there is no penalty if they do not deliver here.
marceem replies:
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The market cannot solve this problem. The market IS the problem. Manufacturers are currently under no obligation to report drug shortages or to report their intention to stop manufacturing critical, life-saving drugs that the public relies on. One of the main problems is that companies have a a smaller profit margin with some drugs because many of these cancer-fighting drugs have become generic so if there is less money in it, manufacturers merely suspend production with notifying anyone. Fewer suppliers are interested in making the drug discussed in this CBS piece, including the largest manufacturer of methotrexate that the infant in the CBS news piece requires, which shut down its plant last fall. If your baby was given a 90% chance of beating leukemia with a specific drug, and then, you discover the manufactuer decided to suspend production you wouldn't be so cavalier about letting the "market" take care of this. Both the House Bill 2245 ad the Senate Bill 296 will require manufacturers to notify Health and Human Services 6 months in advance or as soon as practicable of suspending production. That way Health and Human Services can work with other manufacturers or pharmaceuticals to ensure access to life-saving drugs or find therapeutic alternatives.
danjarch replies:
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It's a big secret that under bush they changed the way they payed for cancer drugs. This has made the drugs unprofitable to make. The law there debating now would only drive up the cost to produce the drug since it would add another layer of compliance. Last government solution fails so of course we need more government solutions.:)
sjc_1 replies:
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Do you think Merck or any big drug company will come on the news and say "we are sorry, we will do better"? No, they will continue to advertise on the evening news for Viagra,
make billions of dollars in profits, then pretend everything is just fine.
sjc_1 replies:
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The Republicans do what the drug companies tell them to do, that way the candidates get BIG campaign contributions. The drug companies do not want to be required to report a future action, they can not be bothered even if it means life or death.
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ldavio says:
this is such a pain in the ass i know a little girl that has cancer and she is so sick when her blood counts go down she has to go back into the hospital you know i bet if any one on the legislative's family got cancer they would make sure that there family members would get the drugs they needed by passing it in a heart beat.But it's ok that any smoe joe then they do not have to worry we know what if any persons die due to this then it is there death on your hands.
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