The Colorado State Board of Pharmacy has initiated a lawsuit against Panaderia y Taqueria Chihuas, a Denver restaurant, for the unauthorized sale of prescription medications. Officials allege that the business continued to distribute antibiotics and anti-parasitic drugs despite receiving a formal cease-and-desist order in February.
The investigation began in January following a consumer complaint regarding the sale of imported medications from Mexico. An undercover operative confirmed the purchase of mebendazole, an anti-parasitic treatment, during a February visit to the Gateway neighborhood establishment. A subsequent follow-up inspection in March revealed the restaurant was still offering topical antibiotics used for eye infections to customers.
State pharmacy regulations strictly prohibit the sale of prescription drugs by non-licensed entities. While the restaurant has been unresponsive to multiple requests for comment, the legal action signals a firm stance by the board against the illicit distribution of pharmaceuticals outside of regulated clinical or pharmacy settings.
Incidents involving restaurants or non-pharmacies dispensing prescription medication remain rare in Colorado. This case joins a small list of recent enforcement actions by the state board, which has previously targeted online pharmacies, veterinary practices, and even vending machine operators for operating without valid pharmacy licenses.