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.
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MAP posted-by: Josh