Pubdate: Wed, 06 Mar 2002 Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY) Copyright: 2002 Messenger-Inquirer Contact: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH INGREDIENTS BILL PASSES HOUSE FRANKFORT -- Legislation that would criminalize possession and sale of large quantities of the ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine unanimously passed the House of Representatives Tuesday. "Law enforcement officials are saying they are running into people with huge amounts of these precursors, and they only reason they could possibly have these large quantities is to use them to manufacture methamphetamine," said Rep. Brian Crall, the bill's primary sponsor. "Presently this is not a crime." HB 644 would make it a Class D felony - punishable by one to five years in prison - for individuals possessing more than 24 grams of pseudoephedrine on first offense. Pseudoephedrine is found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, and it is also the primary ingredient used to make methamphetamine. An individual would have to possess 33 boxes of the medication to face criminal charges. The bill also would make it illegal to distribute these precursors. HB 644 now goes to the Senate. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh