3162                                                VETOES

House Bill No. 1636 — Drug Labels
AN ACT concerning

Drug Labels

FOR the purpose of requiring every pharmacist who, by
prescription, dispenses or sells certain drugs, to
place a warning on the label of the drug container
informing the consumer that the drug may impair
driving ability.

May 31, 1974.

Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill
1636.

This bill requires all pharmacists who dispense or
sell by prescription certain specified drugs to place the
following warning label on the drug container: "This
Medication May Impair Your Driving Ability".

At a public hearing held with respect to House Bill
1636, the Dean of the University of Maryland School of
Pharmacy, as well as a number of pharmacists and
representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, testified
that, in fact, not all of the types of drugs specified in
House Bill 1636 would necessarily impair driving ability.
They further testified that there are various other
drugs, not listed in the bill, which might have adverse
effects in driving habits of individuals. I am also
advised that the Commissioners of the Maryland Board of
Pharmacy are in agreement with this assessment. Copies
of letters to me in this regard from the Dean of the
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and from the
President of the Maryland Board of Pharmacy are attached
to and should be considered a part of this veto message.

In addition, I have been assured by the Board of
Pharmacy that the undeniably commendable purpose of House
Bill 1636 can, and will, be administratively implemented
through Board regulation.

For these reasons, I have decided to veto House Bill
1636.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marvin Mandel