Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson says he's not taking a stand on drugs from Canada.

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Thompson told News 3 that he is not endorsing importing drugs from Canada. In an exclusive interview with a News 3 crew in Washington, D.C., May 5, Thompson said contrary to other reports, he will not urge the president to sign a bill allowing less expensive drugs from Canada into the United States.

"If in fact the Congress does pass a bill, how would we be able to implement it and make sure the drugs that are coming in from Canada would be safe? We can't certify that they're safe right now and that position has not been changed," Thompson said. "If Congress passes it, I am not going to take a position as to whether or not the president should sign or veto it. That's going to be left up to the president, which it always is."

The Bush administration has been against importing drugs from Canada, citing safety concerns because there's no way to monitor it.

Gov. Jim Doyle, an early supporter of importing, set up a Web site to help seniors and others buy prescription medications from Canada. He thinks public opinion may be swaying Congress.

"The attempt to try to scare (people) that buying drugs from Canada was unsafe ... just isn't selling," Doyle said. "If I got ill and had to go to a Canadian pharmacy, I wouldn't have any more concern about the safety there than I would be in the United States."

The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin previously opposed reimportation for safety reasons, but now backs a plan to allow it only through licensed pharmacies, saying hat way it could be monitored.