Pubdate: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 Source: Tullahoma News (TN) Copyright: The Tullahoma News 2004 Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=49033&BRD=1614&PAG=461&dept_id=161070& Website: http://www.tullahomanews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2031 Author: Brian Justce Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) BUSINESSES TOLD NEW RULES ON 'METH' DRUGS A recently approved Tullahoma ordinance to regulate the sale of over-the-counter products used in methamphetamine production is moving forward with businesses being informed about what they will be required to do. City Administrator Jody Baltz said that an outline of the ordinance's requirements and copies of the document were being mailed to 43 businesses that should receive the information this week. The establishments potentially sell cold medicine that contains ephedrine, pseudoephrine and phenylopropanolamine - prime ingredients used to produce methamphetamine. A letter signed by Police Chief J.C. Ferrell is included to explain the process to businesses. It says: The Tullahoma Police Department asks for your cooperation as we implement this new law. You should take the following steps: * Read and become familiar with the law. * Determine if your stores sell the products that fall under the regulations. * Take measures to comply with the regulations, including the display and registration of the sale of the products. * Maintain the register so that it may be inspected by law enforcement officers. * Immediately notify the Tullahoma Police Department of any unusual purchases. The letter says the Police Department will be checking stores on Oct. 1 to see about compliance with the ordinance. Sgt. Mike Mann is listed as a contact for further information to deal with any questions the businesses may have. His phone number is 455-0530, extension 123. The ordinance will regulate amounts of the cold medicine products sold and require purchasers to show identification and sign documents when they buy them. Quantity restrictions involve sales of no more than 100 tablets per customer of any products containing any of the three cold medicines. Purchasers will also be required to register: * The specific quantity they bought. * Their names though a proper signature. * Driver's license numbers or other official identification information. * Purchase dates. Clerks who sell the medicine also will be required to sign or initial the purchase documents. Baltz said the approach should serve as a strong way to track sales of the products. He said if an individual buys cold medicine up to the limited amount at five different stores, it gives police investigative leads to follow. Plus, Baltz said the records can also be used as evidence in prosecuting meth offenders. Deputy Jeff Duncan, a member of the Coffee County Sheriff's Department's Criminal Enforcement Unit, made a presentation Friday to the Tullahoma Noon Rotary Club about meth history, its impacts and its continual problems. Duncan said Tullahoma's move to regulate ephedrine-type products is a step in the right direction. He told Rotarians that meth cannot be produced without ephedrine or one of its like products. He said later that eliminating its availability will probably reduce meth's production scope. "It's good Tullahoma passed that," he said, referring to the ordinance. "It's bound to make a difference." He added that requiring driver's license numbers will make it more difficult for individuals to purchase ephedrine products to produce meth. Duncan said a possible move to combat meth could theoretically involve halting production of all ephedrine-type products. He added that without ephedrine, there would be no meth. Mayor Steve Cope, who is a member of the Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse, has also drafted a letter included in the packet drafts being forwarded to businesses. His information further explains why retail stores are being asked to help in the war against methamphetamine abuse. Also included is a copy of Gov. Phil Bredesen's news release that outlines in detail recommendations from the Task Force about how the state should deal with meth abuse questions. "It is my expectation that this will be a guide for the next state legislative session, and I anticipate that there will be new state legislation enacted addressing this important issue," Cope says in the letter. "In the meantime, Tullahoma has passed local legislation, modeled on that enacted in Cookeville, Tenn. "I am sure that when the state takes action, we will have to make some changes to our local ordinance to conform to the requirements of any new state law. I do call your attention to the recommendation entitled "Limit the Availability of Pre-Cursor Materials Used to Illegally Manufacture Methamphetamine" in the governor's news release. This will give you a sense of direction the state may take. "I am hopeful that the recommendations of the Task Force will result in new tools in the fight against this insidious drug." Highlights from the governor's press release involve: * Increasing funding for methamphetamine treatment with an eye toward long-term initiatives. * Educating communities about the dangers of methamphetamine abuse. * Creating new penalties and strengthening existing penalties for methamphetamine-related crimes. * Committing resources to help children harmed by methamphetamine manufacturing and abuse. * Limiting the availability of pre-cursor materials used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine. * Addressing contamination caused by clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. * Improving coordination between federal, state and local stakeholders. Bredesen said in the press release that the Task Force's recommendations represent a "sensible approach" that lays out a meaningful plan for attacking the meth problem. He asked the panel to continue meeting periodically in order to make additional recommendations, as needed. "We're not going to solve Tennessee's methamphetamine problem overnight," Bredesen said. "But I believe this Task Force has put together a realistic set of ideas that will put some teeth in the state's ability to deal with this insidious drug." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin