As used in this section and sections 20-14d to 20-14g, inclusive, and section 20-12d:

1. (1) “Dispense” has the same meaning as provided in section 20-571.
2. (2) “Drug” means a legend drug, as defined in section 20-571, or a controlled drug, as defined in section 21a-240.
3. (3) “Prescribing practitioner” means a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, nurse-midwife or veterinarian licensed by the state of Connecticut and authorized to prescribe medication within the scope of such person's practice.
4. (4) “Professional samples” means complimentary starter dose drugs packaged in accordance with federal and state statutes and regulations that are provided to a prescribing practitioner free of charge by a manufacturer or distributor and distributed free of charge by the prescribing practitioner to such prescribing practitioner's patients.

(P.A. 85-545, S. 1, 6; P.A. 89-389, S. 13, 22; P.A. 90-211, S. 12, 23; P.A. 92-88, S. 2; P.A. 95-264, S. 49; P.A. 99-102, S. 20; 99-175, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 89-389 redefined “licensed practitioner” to include advanced practice registered nurses and nurse-midwives; P.A. 90-211 added the reference to Sec. 20-12d in introductory language and redefined “licensed practitioner” to include physician assistants; P.A. 92-88 redefined “licensed practitioner” to include optometrists; P.A. 95-264 substituted definition of “prescribing practitioner” for “licensed practitioner” and included veterinarians and made technical changes; (Revisor's note: In 1999 the Revisors editorially corrected the statutory reference in Subdiv. (1), changing “subdivision (8)” to “subdivision (9)”); P.A. 99-102 deleted obsolete reference to osteopathy and made technical changes; P.A. 99-175 made technical and gender neutral changes.