Source: Daily Record, The (WA)
Pubdate: 20 Feb 2001
Website: http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/665/public/index.html
Address: 401 N. Main Street, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Contact:  2002 The Daily Record
Fax: (509)925-5696
Author: Andrea Pascoe

A CURE FOR THE COMMON METH LAB

ELLENSBURG — Super 1 Foods has taken a stance against the illegal 
manufacturing of methamphetamines by pulling certain over the counter 
medications off its shelves.

A drug found primarily in cold relievers — psuedoephedrine — is commonly 
used in the production of methamphetamines, or crank as it is known on the 
street. Super 1 Manager Billy Nobles said the decision to pull these 
certain drugs from his shelves was an easy one.

"We identified certain products that have ingredients that can be distilled 
down into an illegal drug," Nobles said. "We have taken them off the shelf."

In their place are scannable, plastic-coated cards bearing a photograph of 
the product and another card informing customers of the change in store policy.

"People can come in, get a scanner card, present it to a checker and that 
person will get the item for them," Nobles said. "We made the decision to 
sell these items on a face-to-face basis."

Taking the items off the shelves little more that two weeks ago, Nobles 
said the store was directed by their parent company, Rosaurers Corporation, 
to comply with an ongoing cooperative effort that began with the Spokane 
Police Department.

"They (Rosaurers) started this in Spokane and decided to do it in all their 
stores," Nobles said. "Last November or December, I found a grocery sack 
full of empty (drug) packages near the street. They were all brands, both 
national and private labels, and from at least three different retailers. 
It wasn't a hard decision to make to pull these items from our shelves."

Nobles said his customers have been supportive of the new policy and have 
expressed their appreciation for the store's efforts.

"Everyone has been supportive," Nobles said. "By doing this, it puts a 
level of control on it. Although there is no legislation about this, every 
now and then there is an issue where our company feels it needs to make a 
stand. This is an opportunity as a member of the community to make sure 
there is a legal use of these products."

Of the two other major grocery stores in the Ellensburg area, Safeway has 
also pulled these drugs from their shelves, but for different reasons. 
Albertson's Food and Drug has not pulled the items and has no plans to in 
the immediate future, store Manager Nicole Campbell said.

"They were pulled because of theft," store Manager Devar Gleed said. "We 
had a couple of instances where it was being shoplifted in large 
quantities, so now we sell it out of the pharmacy only. We still carry the 
complete line of these items so customers can still buy them. We made the 
decision to sell only through our pharmacy because of theft."

Because the over-the-counter medicine is becoming a controlled substance 
due to abuse by the drug counterculture, the Ellensburg Police Department 
is pleased local retailers are taking a stand and making it more difficult 
for misusers to buy the products.

"It is the responsible thing to do," EPD Capt. Ross Green said. "It is 
obvious that these ingredients are used to make methamphetamines and that 
sick people don't need 10 to 15 boxes to get over it (their cold). I think 
it's a responsible thing to make it more difficult for these people to try 
to get it." "This is a good demonstration on how a company can respond 
without government intervention," Nobles said. "I see this as becoming a 
trend and I'm happy my company chose to take this stance. In a small way it 
is sending a strong message against illegal drug use."