I read recently that we spend two dollars on marketing of drugs for each dollar spend on research and development.

I am usually a free speech advocate, but free speech needn't apply to companies.

Medical advertising is unethical! We are seeing our healhcare costs rise to pay for the marketing and public relations efforts of drug companies.  

It should be noted that individual companies can't stop marketing on their own because ads are necessary to compete in the current marketplace.  That is why a ban is needed.

MEXICAN DRUG WAR is AMERICAN DRUG WAR

I strongly encourage everyone who votes up this idea to vote up the idea MEXICAN DRUG WAR is AMERICAN DRUG WAR: Revamp the Controlled Substance Act for Border Security

Here's where you can find it:
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.apexp?id=087800000004mhk&srPos=2&srKp=087

To be politically expedient, we should not be asking Obama to "legalize marijuana." We should ask him to revamp the Controlled Substance Act, descheduling marijuana so that it may eventually be feasible to make legalized.

Since it is a new idea and needing a BOOST, please vote this up and encourage all your friends to do so as well!

The argument that marketing costs increase product cost is too simplistic. Increased marketing spurs demand not cost. Increased demand means greater leverage in economies of scale and an overall decrease in cost.

Fifty years ago the American public, judging by the ads on TV, were obsessed with unwashed hair and smelly armpits.  Now we are apparently obsessed with drippy noses, headaches, loose bowel movements - or no bowel movements.   It doesn't stop there, however.  How about being able to boast that you have a Stryker knee or hip replacement instead of brand X.

The pharmaceutical companies are drug pushers - and they don't sell cheap.  For me, instead of Prozac or Zoloft,  I think I'd rather be able to have a few (legal) tokes.