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 *
  Markvicka Taunia
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
03/21/2012
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [PCRX]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 5 SYLVAN WAY, SUITE 100
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice President, Commercial
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054
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)

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 (right to buy)   (1) 09/01/2020 Common Stock 21,385 $ 1.61 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (2) 09/01/2020 Common Stock 29,754 $ 1.61 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (3) 12/28/2020 Common Stock 18,349 $ 5.49 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Markvicka Taunia
C/O PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
5 SYLVAN WAY, SUITE 100
PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054
      Vice President, Commercial  

Signatures

/s/ Taunia Markvicka 03/29/2012
**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) The stock option vests as follows: 25% of the shares shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date of September 2, 2010; 1/36th of the shares shall vest over the three year period thereafter.
(2) The stock option vests as follows: 50% of the shares are vested upon the date of grant; 50% of the remaining shares shall vest in monthly installments over the next 24 months.
(3) The stock option vests as follows: 25% of the shares shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date of December 29, 2010; 1/36th of the shares shall vest over the three year period thereafter.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

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