"This is an opportunity to educate legislators on what's already in place," Trujillo said. "It's an opportunity to show them what is working, what isn't."

Trujillo described 2008 as an active year for pharmacy issues. In Michigan, a medicinal medical marijuana law was approved and Washington State voters passed a Death with Dignity Law. A total of 49 states now allow pharmacists to immunize; several state legislatures are considering generic substitution proposals; and the movement to regulate, certify, and mandate specific training levels for pharmacy technicians is growing.

This week, for example, representatives from 12 states joined ASHP's Pharmacy Technician Initiative effort to promote state laws regarding the training, registration, and certification of technicians. At the federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency is considering pharmaceutical waste disposal proposals. Among the pharmacy initiatives that several states are likely to consider in 2009 are technology issues such as online license renewals, which ASHP believes will benefit both pharmacy and state governments; remote prescription dispensing; and mutual recognition of licensure.

Trujillo said state boards of pharmacies are definitely more focused on lobbying efforts, as healthcare reform seems to be on the national radar. But she cautioned pharmacists not to rely solely on lobbyists, but to voice their concerns to legislators. Brian M. Meyer, ASHP's director of government affairs division, echoed Trujillo's sentiments. "All politics is local, and it starts at the state legislative level," he said, adding that the "next Barack Obama" will be seated in a state legislature in January.