(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 before 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 before March 28, 1975, from receiving a renewal of the permit.