Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 Source: Kansas City Star (MO) Copyright: 2005 The Kansas City Star Contact: http://www.kcstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221 Author: David Klepper Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) TO COMBAT METH, KANSAS MULLS RESTRICTIONS ON DECONGESTANTS TOPEKA - You may soon have to sign a form and show identification when buying popular decongestants in Kansas as part of the state's efforts to fight methamphetamine. Lawmakers gathered Thursday to announce a plan to restrict the sale of over-the-counter tablets containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine, a highly addictive and dangerous illegal drug often called meth. Sudafed, Actifed, Nyquil and more than 300 other products contain pseudoephedrine. The rules would not apply to those products when sold in gel-tab or liquid formulas, which are not easily used in meth production. The new rules would require buyers to present identification and sign their name at the pharmacy. Also, the proposed law would prohibit the purchase of more than 9 grams of the products within a month. That's the equivalent of about three regular-sized boxes of most drugs. That would discourage many meth manufacturers from making the drug in Kansas, according to Sen. Derek Schmidt, an Independence Republican who is leading the effort. Oklahoma and Oregon passed similar laws last year. Missouri, Nebraska and 22 other states also are considering them this year. In 2003, Oklahoma police seized an average of 103 meth labs per month. Since the law went into effect in April 2004, that number has gone down to 56. If Kansas doesn't pass the law, meth manufacturers from other states may find it easier to do their shopping in the state, Schmidt said. John Kiefhaber, of the Kansas Pharmacists Association, said his group was studying the proposal but had not yet decided whether it will support the plan. The bill already has the sponsorship of 20 senators - one short of the number needed to pass it. Legislators said the bill should pass quickly once the legislative session starts next week. "We want to move it across the Senate floor as quickly as possible," said Sen. John Vratil, a Leawood Republican. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin