The Public Health Code defines the practice of pharmacy as a health service, the clinical application of which includes the encouragement of safety and efficacy in the prescribing, dispensing, administering and use of drugs and related articles for the prevention of illness and the maintenance and management of health.

Professional functions associated with the practice of pharmacy include the interpretation and evaluation of prescriptions; drug product selection; compounding, dispensing, safe storage, and distribution of drugs and devices; maintenance of legally required records; advising the prescriber and the patient as required regarding contents, therapeutic action, utilization, and possible adverse reactions and interactions of drugs.

The Public Health Code, by Section 17722, grants authority to the Board of Pharmacy to regulate, control, and inspect the character and standards of pharmacy practice and of drugs manufactured, distributed, prescribed, dispensed, and administered or issued in this State and procure samples, and limit or prevent the sale of drugs that do not comply with this section's provisions; prescribe minimum criteria for the use of professional and technical equipment in reference to the compounding and dispensing of drugs; grant pharmacy licenses for each separate place of practice of a dispensing prescriber who meets requirements for drug control licensing; and granting licenses to manufacturer/wholesaler distributors of prescription drugs. The Board also has the obligation to discipline licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety, and welfare.

The Michigan Board of Pharmacy consists of 11 voting members: 6 pharmacists and 5 public members.

The board currently oversees approximately 13,163 Pharmacists, 3,079 Pharmacies and 1,040 Manufacturer/Wholesalers.