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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 9Art. 3§ 4059 Prescription Requirements For Drugs

§ 4059 Prescription Requirements For Drugs

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 4059 Prescription Requirements For Drugs

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't give or sell strong medicines or medical tools unless a doctor, dentist, or other licensed professional writes a prescription for it.
  • •Stores, factories, and pharmacies can give these medicines or tools to each other or to doctors without a prescription, but they must keep records of who got what and when.
  • •People doing dialysis at home can get their medicines and tools directly from a pharmacist, but they must finish special training first.
  • •Physical therapists can get some medicines and tools from pharmacists, but only if they keep records and follow special rules.

Example

If your friend has a bad toothache and asks you to give them some of your strong pain pills that a doctor prescribed for you after your surgery.

You can't just give them your pills. It's against the law to give strong medicines to someone else, even if you think they need it. Your friend needs to see a doctor or dentist to get their own prescription.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 4059 Prescription Requirements For Drugs

(a) A person may not furnish any dangerous drug, except upon the prescription of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, veterinarian, or naturopathic doctor pursuant to Section 3640.7. A person may not furnish any dangerous device, except upon the prescription of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, veterinarian, or naturopathic doctor pursuant to Section 3640.7. (b) This section does not apply to the furnishing of any dangerous drug or dangerous device by a manufacturer, wholesaler, or pharmacy to each other or to a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, veterinarian, or naturopathic doctor pursuant to Section 3640.7, or to a laboratory under sales and purchase records that correctly give the date, the names and addresses of the supplier and the buyer, the drug or device, and its quantity. This section does not apply to the furnishing of any dangerous device by a manufacturer, wholesaler, or pharmacy to a physical therapist acting within the scope of his or her license under sales and purchase records that correctly provide the date the device is provided, the names and addresses of the supplier and the buyer, a description of the device, and the quantity supplied. (c) A pharmacist, or a person exempted pursuant to Section 4054, may distribute dangerous drugs and dangerous devices directly to dialysis patients pursuant to regulations adopted by the board. The board shall adopt any regulations as are necessary to ensure the safe distribution of these drugs and devices to dialysis patients without interruption thereof. A person who violates a regulation adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall be liable upon order of the board to surrender his or her personal license. These penalties shall be in addition to penalties that may be imposed pursuant to Section 4301. If the board finds any dialysis drugs or devices distributed pursuant to this subdivision to be ineffective or unsafe for the intended use, the board may institute immediate recall of any or all of the drugs or devices distributed to individual patients. (d) Home dialysis patients who receive any drugs or devices pursuant to subdivision (c) shall have completed a full course of home training given by a dialysis center licensed by the State Department of Public Health. The physician prescribing the dialysis products shall submit proof satisfactory to the manufacturer or wholesaler that the patient has completed the program. (e) A pharmacist may furnish a dangerous drug authorized for use pursuant to Section 2620.3 to a physical therapist. A record containing the date, name and address of the buyer, and name and quantity of the drug shall be maintained. This subdivision shall not be construed to authorize the furnishing of a controlled substance. (f) A pharmacist may furnish electroneuromyographic needle electrodes or hypodermic needles used for the purpose of placing wire electrodes for kinesiological electromyographic testing to physical therapists who are certified by the Physical Therapy Board of California to perform tissue penetration in accordance with Section 2620.5. (g) Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting a licensed physical therapist to dispense or furnish a dangerous device without a prescription of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, or veterinarian. (h) A veterinary food-animal drug retailer shall dispense, furnish, transfer, or sell veterinary food-animal drugs only to another veterinary food-animal drug retailer, a pharmacy, a veterinarian, or to a veterinarian’s client pursuant to a prescription from the veterinarian for food-producing animals. (Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 653, Sec. 24. (SB 1489) Effective January 1, 2011.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

prescriptionregulationmedicalpatientdangerphysicianpharmacylicense

Related Statutes

  • § 4040 Prescription Order Requirements
  • § 4124 Pharmacist Contact Lens Dispensing
  • § 4051 Pharmacist Prescription Authority Rules
  • § 4053 Designated Representative Licensing Requirements
  • § 4060 Controlled Substance Possession Limits

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 4059.
View Official Source