(a) It shall be unlawful for any nonprofit, tax exempt, or governmentally funded hospital to acquire direct or indirect interest in or otherwise hold directly or indirectly a licensed pharmacy permit pursuant to the provisions of § 17-92-405, for the sale at retail of drugs and medicines.
(b) However, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit any hospital having a direct or indirect interest in or otherwise holding either directly or indirectly a permit prior to March 28, 1975, from continuing to have an interest in or holding the permit. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit any hospital so holding a permit prior to March 28, 1975, from receiving a renewal of the permit.