The Internet is not the sort of place that is easy to regulate. In fact, some people believe attempting to regulate the Internet is downright impossible. However, various industries and businesses that have a presence on the Internet have established organizations and protocols to help them self-police their activities. For example, the casino industry has the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and eCOGRA, which regulate and accredit online casinos and gambling establishments, and whose seals have been taken as a sign of being a reputable, legitimate online gambling operation. For those who wish to tell a reputable online drug store from the chaff, there is an equivalent organization.
The prevalence of online pharmacies has made it necessary for some sort of governing body to be established, or at least some sort of regulatory standard to be put into place. In the interest of helping the public tell a reputable online drug store from a possible scam, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has established a licensure and accreditation program for online pharmacies. This program, known as the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) program, has the...