Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council

Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council (1976) was a Supreme Court case that ruled commercial advertising has First Amendment protections. The Virginia Board of Pharmacy had prohibited pharmacists from advertising drug prices, arguing it was misleading. The Court decided that such restrictions violated free speech rights because consumers benefit from access to information. This case established that commercial speech—like advertising—deserves First Amendment protection, balancing regulation against the importance of truthful commercial information in a free market.