National Wholesale Druggists’ Association

According to the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA—formerly the National Wholesale Druggists Association), there are thousands of wholesalers. Fewer than a half dozen are responsible for a majority of sales. These full-line or full-service wholesalers obtain medications directly from the manufacturers and distribute the medications to pharmacies (both independent and chains), institutions, and other wholesalers. Some chain pharmacies have regional or local distribution centers that receive medications from the wholesaler in large quantities and repackage the medications into package sizes that are more feasible at the store level. 

The National Wholesale Druggist Association (NDWA) vehemently objected to such measures since the use of stamps and detailed record keeping would greatly increase the cost of doing business. The NDWA also objected to the inclusion of cannabis on the proscribed list. Dr. Charles West, their spokesman, said that there was no reason to consider cannabis in the same class as opium, morphine, and cocaine, since it was not habit forming. Dr. William Muir, spokesman for the New York Pharmaceutical Association, pointed out that cannabis was a major ingredient in com cures. Having to keep detailed records of every sale of com cures was ridiculous. 

Charles A. West, chairman of the National Wholesale Druggists Association, and Albert Plaut, representing Lehn and Fink, a New York pharmaceutical firm, spoke against the proposal, claiming that the notion that cannabis was in any way a harmful drug was based more on literary fantasy such as that found in The Count of Monte Cristo than on fact. West and Plaut were the more convincing speakers and cannabis was not even included in the subsequent debate over national restrictions on narcotic drags. 

The National Wholesale Druggists Association conducts an annual survey of operations of member wholesalers which is restricted to members only. Research to develop specific commodity group-handling costs is being carried on for its members. 

Janet Scheren National Wholesale Druggists Association Alexandria, VA Stuart Schweitzer Andrew J. Webster, Ph.D. F acuity of Humanities, Arts, and Education Anglia University Cambridge, England... 

Scheren, J., Vice President of Education Research Information, National Wholesale Druggists Association, Alexandria, VA, personal communication, May 7, 1992. 

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