Aiming to cut Washington state’s health-care costs, Gov. Christine Gregoire will lobby federal officials and lawmakers to allow imports of prescription drugs, her spokeswoman said on Friday.

Gregoire signed a state bill into law on Thursday that would allow retail pharmacies in the state to import prescription drugs from wholesalers in Canada as well as the United Kingdom and Ireland, but for the state law to take effect, the federal government must first lift its ban on pharmaceutical imports.

“She will use her position as governor to influence federal policy-makers and to pressure them into really dealing with this issue,” said spokeswoman Althea Cawley-Murphree.

“It’s definitely an issue in the minds of Washingtonians because Canada is so close and accessible.”

Although individuals are allowed to procure their own drugs by crossing over into Canada and filling their prescriptions, foreign wholesalers would have to be licensed by the federal government.

Amid rising health-care costs, a number of U.S. states and local governments have been demanding the federal government allow prescription drugs, which cost less abroad, to be imported.

Adding dollars to Washington state’s health plans for state employees and low-income earners was a priority for Gregoire and many lawmakers in the state’s recent legislative session. Maintaining those plans in the future while holding down costs will be a challenge.

“This bill says to the federal government, show us what’s wrong with Canadian prescription drugs,” Gregoire said in a statement. “Why shouldn’t our citizens be allowed to buy safe, affordable prescription drugs?”