Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  PETERSON RICHARD D
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
04/07/2008		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORP [MRX]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
8125 N. HAYDEN ROAD		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, CFO & Corp Treasurer
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85258		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 22,761 (1)
D
 
Common Stock 99.105 (10)
I
By 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (2) 07/17/2002 07/17/2011 Common Stock 3,710 $ 26.95 D  
Employee Stock Option (3) 07/17/2002 07/17/2011 Common Stock 30,290 $ 26.95 D  
Employee Stock Option (4) 07/31/2004 07/31/2013 Common Stock 36,000 $ 29.2 D  
Employee Stock Option (5) 07/16/2005 07/16/2014 Common Stock 36,000 $ 38.45 D  
Employee Stock Option (6) 07/21/2006 07/21/2015 Common Stock 15,000 $ 32.41 D  
Employee Stock Option (7) 07/25/2001 07/25/2010 Common Stock 3,618 $ 27.63 D  
Employee Stock Option (8) 07/25/2001 07/25/2010 Common Stock 46,382 $ 27.63 D  
Employee Stock Option (9) 07/11/2003 07/11/2012 Common Stock 22,010 $ 18.33 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
PETERSON RICHARD D
8125 N. HAYDEN ROAD
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85258		       EVP, CFO & Corp Treasurer  

Signatures

Richard D. Peterson 04/04/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 2,400 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 7/21/05 - remaining vesting of 600 shares on 7/21/08, 900 shares on 7/21/09 and 900 shares on 7/21/10. Includes 2,160 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 2/07/06 - remaining vesting of 540 shares on 2/07/09, 810 shares on 2/07/10 and 810 shares on 2/07/11. Includes 4,379 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 3/07/07 - remaining vesting of 486 shares on 3/07/09, 973 shares on 3/07/10, 1,460 shares on 3/07/11 and 1,460 shares on 3/07/12. Includes 12,755 shares from Restricted Stock grant dated 3/05/08 - vesting over 5 years beginning on grant date - 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4 and 30% year 5.
(2) ISO Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/17/01. Fully vested.
(3) NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/17/01. Fully vested.
(4) NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/31/03. Vesting over 5 years beginning 7/31/04. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.
(5) NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/16/04. Vesting over 5 years beginning 7/16/05. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.
(6) NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/21/05. Vesting over 5 years beginning 7/21/06. 10% year 1, 10% year 2, 20% year 3, 30% year 4, 30% year 5.
(7) ISO Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/25/00. Fully vested.
(8) NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/25/00. Fully vested.
(9) NQ Employee Stock Option grant dated 7/11/02. Fully vested.
(10) Through March 31, 2008, the reporting person has acquired 99.105 of shares of MRX common stock under the MRX 401(k) plan. The information in this report is based on a plan statement dated as of March 31, 2008.

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