Doctors prescribed morphine to my Dad when he was close to his end, he was staying at home and not expected to leave again kinda thing. I had to drive around 3

Doctors prescribed morphine to my Dad when he was close to his end, he was staying at home and not expected to leave again kinda thing. I had to drive around 3 cities hunting for a pharmacist that would fill the prescription; after getting a physical paper copy signed by the doctor because thats not a "phone it in" drug. Drove all day on that one. They'd say "sure no problem" on the phone then "oh we can't do this" when I showed up. This was a decade ago, but nobody involved or that ive told this story to seemed to think it odd. Certainly no one has ever suggested to me that a pharmacist refusing to distribute pain meds for someone who needed them was a political act that required society and the mechanisms of state to become involved. Is this just misconception on my part, or is it "some drugs must be available and others can be pharmacist's discretion?"