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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 9Art. 7§ 4120 Nonresident Pharmacy Drug Sales

§ 4120 Nonresident Pharmacy Drug Sales

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

§ 4120 Nonresident Pharmacy Drug Sales

Key Takeaways

  • •If you're a pharmacy from another state and want to sell medicine in California, you must register with the state first.
  • •You can only sell medicine through licensed wholesalers or approved providers—no other ways are allowed.
  • •Getting this registration doesn’t change your taxes or mean you’re officially doing business in California.

Example

A pharmacy in Nevada wants to sell prescription drugs to customers in California through their website.

The Nevada pharmacy must register with California first. They can’t just ship medicine directly to customers—they have to use a licensed wholesaler or provider in California. Even after registering, they still have to pay the same taxes as before.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 4120 Nonresident Pharmacy Drug Sales

(a) A nonresident pharmacy shall not sell or distribute dangerous drugs or dangerous devices in this state through any person or media, other than a wholesaler or third-party logistics provider who has obtained a license pursuant to this chapter or through a selling or distribution outlet that is licensed as a wholesaler or third-party logistics provider pursuant to this chapter, without registering as a nonresident pharmacy. (b) Applications for a nonresident pharmacy registration shall be made on a form furnished by the board. The board may require any information the board deems reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. (c) The Legislature, by enacting this section, does not intend a license issued to any nonresident pharmacy pursuant to this section to change or affect the tax liability imposed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 23501) of Part 11 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code on any nonresident pharmacy. (d) The Legislature, by enacting this section, does not intend a license issued to any nonresident pharmacy pursuant to this section to serve as any evidence that the nonresident pharmacy is doing business within this state. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 6. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

registrationliabilityprescriptionmedicaldangerpharmacylegislatureobligation

Related Statutes

  • § 4033 Manufacturer Definition Exclusions
  • § 4040 Prescription Order Requirements
  • § 4053 Designated Representative Licensing Requirements
  • § 4059 Prescription Requirements For Drugs
  • § 4072 Prescription Transmission Authorization

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 4120.
View Official Source