Florida House Overwhelmingly Approves "Pill Mill" Bill
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) - The Florida House voted 116-1 Thursday in favor of a bill that cracks down on so-called 'pill mills' which supply prescription painkillers to addicts and drug dealers.
Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne, was the only opposing vote.
House Bill 7095 would ban most doctors from dispensing controlled substances and limit pharmacies to dispensing 5,000 doses per month. Gone from the bill is provision which would have repealed the state's prescription tracking system that's scheduled to begin operating in August.
Lawmakers spoke emotionally about the need for the bill to rid the state of drug dealers and users who have easy access to powerful, addictive painkillers.
"I will tell you it's devastating on everyone who comes in contact with it,'' said Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, who revealed that an unidentified family member abused Oxycontin.
Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi immediately issued statements praising the House for the decision.
"Today we are one step closer to giving law enforcement and regulators the tools they need to combat pill mills and prescription drug abuse in Florida,'' said Bondi, who has made the issue one of her top priorities.
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)
