Why is it legal for pharmaceutical companies to advertise their drugs on TV?

Companies have been advertising drugs on TV since TV was born. The difference lately is the commercials for prescription drugs. Drug companies will do just about anything, as long as it's legal, to sell drugs. I do find it misleading and harmful most of the time. But, freedom of speech and enterprise is still strong in America. Most hospitals these days make it very, very difficult for drug representatives to get into the hospitals and talk to MDs, nurses, and pharmacists. Thus, they spend more and more time with direct marketing.

The real tragedy is that drug companies are spending more and more on promoting drugs than research and development.

because they want to make money and these drugs arent over the counter drugs, you just buy them anywhere, forr the real, bad drugs you need a perscription( or a dealer haha).

it's because what they are promoting is something that's also legal. advertising is being done to almost every type of product or service. this is just one way to gain more consumers.