# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 34 — Board of Pharmacy

### Chapter 10 — Pharmacist, Pharmacy Intern, and Pharmacy Technician Code of Conduct

#### Regulation .08 Refusing to Dispense a Controlled Substance.

*COMAR 10.34.10.08*

A. If, based on generally accepted professional standards for the practice of pharmacy, a pharmacist has reason to believe, or should have reason to believe, that a prescription for a controlled dangerous substance was not issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of the prescriber's practice, the pharmacist may not dispense the controlled dangerous substance until the pharmacist:

  (1) Consults with the prescriber; and

  (2) Verifies the medical legitimacy of the prescription.

B. If, after consulting with the prescriber, and based on generally accepted professional standards for the practice of pharmacy, a pharmacist has reason to believe that the prescription for a controlled dangerous substance was not issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of the prescriber's practice, the pharmacist shall:

  (1) Refuse to dispense the drug; and

  (2) Report the incident to the regulatory board that licenses the prescriber.