Levitra

Carey Baker, a Eustis Republican, said the ban would help deter crime and punish predators, just like existing Florida laws that restrict gun ownership and voting by felons after they serve their time.

''It's like giving alcohol to an alcoholic,'' said Baker, who filed the Senate version of the bill.

``If this helps reduce one crime, then it's worth it.'' The measure, which will be voted on today in Senate and House committees, was the brainchild of state Rep.

Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican who is sponsoring the House version.

It stems from a move by Florida lawmakers last year to ban Medicaid recipients from receiving state-paid Viagra, regardless of whether they are sexual offenders.

PHARMACISTS WORRIED But the new push is causing concern among pharmacists, who don't want to be responsible for having to conduct sexual-predator checks on all customers seeking to fill prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs.

That task, they say, should be left to physicians who prescribe the medicine.

''If any checking needs to be done, it needs to be at the point the order is initiated - not when the order is executed,'' said Michael Jackson, executive vice president of the Florida Pharmacy Association.

He said his agency is working with legislators to resolve some of its issues.

''We understand the needs and desires of this legislation and what it's trying to do,'' he said.

``But we're not so sure that placing pharmacists in control is something that wil...

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