One of the most discussed and debated topics this legislative session will be the Pharmacy Drug Law. The law currently states a pharmacy must be 51 percent owned by a pharmacist.

North Dakotans for Affordable Healthcare is a coalition of more than 10,000 North Dakota citizens who are working hard to have this outdated law repealed so we can have access to more affordable prescription drug prices offered by major retailers.

Today's tough economic times call for tough decisions and tough decisions need to be made by our local legislators. Would our state and our people benefit by having access to the more than 300 prescription drugs offered by major retailers for $4? Imagine if we had people who took their medications regularly because they could afford them instead of choosing which medications to take because of price. Our population might be healthier and costing our state or insurance companies less money in the long run.

It's time this law was changed so 600,000 people can benefit from lower prescription drug prices. As it stands, the current law benefits a few … approximately 158 independent pharmacists who own drug stores. (This total does not include Thrifty White Drug Stores because they are a Minnesota corporation.)

The North Dakota pharmacists who wish to keep the law in tact are saying, "Changing the law will close small town pharmacies." Personally, I disagree. No matter what our legislators decide, keeping this outdated law on the books will not save our rural towns or their retailers on Main Street.

As a person who grew up in a small town in North Dakota, my hometown looks nothing like it did 30 years ago when I lived there. The decline of retail services in small towns is due to the population decline that has occurred over time, not because major retailers have expanded in the larger cities. The county where I grew up has lost more than 2,000 people in 30 years. I would only hope people residing in rural communities would continue to support the retailers on Main Street and I believe it's unlikely people in rural areas will travel to a larger town just to buy their prescription drugs.

The repeal of the pharmacy law is not about saving our small towns, who provides the best pharmacy services or who will stay in business or go out of business. The repeal of the law will allow North Dakota consumers better access to lower prescription drug prices.

(Tamara Ibach is the coalition manager for North Dakotans for Affordable Healthcare.)