CONCORD, N.H. — Three pharmacists - two of them Canadian - warned Tuesday that Gov. Craig Benson's plan to buy much cheaper prescription drugs in Canada could be dangerous to consumers' health.

The governor's plan may be laudable, but the "scheme at best is illegal, ill-conceived and dangerous," said Rick Potter, a pharmacist representing the New Hampshire Pharmacists Association.

Stephen Thompson, a pharmacist in Saint John, N.B., said drugs imported to Canada from other countries are not regulated by the Canadian government and could be counterfeit.

"We don't know where these drugs flowing into the United States are coming from," added Tony Di Pede of Toronto, a member of a Canadian advocacy group. He mentioned China, South Africa, Turkey and Iran.

"These drugs can't be sold to Canadians. There's no way of assuring quality," he said.

Di Pede called them "very dangerous" and cautioned American buyers not to "put your health at risk for false economy."

The three spoke at a news conference to denounce Benson's plan.

Pharmacy groups and the Food and Drug Administration started a campaign last week to warn consumers against buying drugs in Canada. In addition, they say more demand from the United States might create a black market for drugs.

Benson's spokesman, Wendell Packard, said the governor understands the safety issue, and will have "clear and precise" plans to assure the safety of imported drugs.

He said licensed doctors on both sides of the border will have to sign off on a prescription, and that the drugs being brought to the United States will have been made by U.S. pharmaceutical companies.

"We're only going to deal with established Canadian pharmacies that meet the criteria of our Department of Health and Human Services," he said.

In December, Benson proposed buying prescription drugs from Canadian outlets for state prison inmates and some Medicaid recipients. The state also would put up a website providing links to Canadian pharmacies where any New Hampshire residents could get prescriptions filled.

New Hampshire would be the first state to do so, although others are considering it.

However, U.S. federal law forbids reimportation of Canadian drugs unless the U.S. Health and Human Services Department certifies their safety, which it has refused to do.

Benson is seeking a waiver of the law.

Thompson, the Saint John pharmacist, said Canada does not have enough drugs to supply U.S. customers. He also pointed out that Canadian pharmacists would require customers to sign liability waivers for any drugs they sell that flow through Canada, further casting doubt on the safety of the drugs.

Because of Canadian price controls, brand-name prescription drugs in Canada sell for 35 per cent to 40 per cent less than in the United States.

More than one million Americans reportedly order drugs from Canada each year, generally via the Internet. U.S. patients send prescriptions written by American doctors to the Canadian companies, which have them reviewed and co-signed by Canadian physicians, then filled by licensed Canadian pharmacies.

However, the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy in New Hampshire said drugs available to non-Canadians largely are overseas drugs passing through Canada or arranged by Canadian brokers and are not made by U.S. pharmaceutical companies.

Potter said there are programs for needy people to get discounted safe drugs in the United States, but "I believe people aren't using the system." However, he acknowledged that pharmacists don't do a good job of alerting customers of the programs.

Asked how buying in Canada might affect state pharmacists, Potter said residents might see a decrease in pharmacy hours and services.