Pubdate: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 Source: Wichita Eagle (KS) Copyright: 2005 The Wichita Eagle Contact: http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/editorial/4664538.htm Website: http://www.wichitaeagle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/680 Author: Randy Scholfield, for the Editorial Board TOUGHER ON METH Oklahoma passed a bill last year restricting the sales of popular medicines such as Sudafed that contain ephedrine -- a key ingredient in making the highly addictive and dangerous drug methamphetamine. Already, Kansas has seen a sixfold increase in arrests of people coming from Oklahoma to buy medicine for meth. That's why Kansas needs to follow Oklahoma's lead and pass a law making it more difficult to purchase off-the-shelf cold medicines. A recently proposed bill -- supported by Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams and Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston -- would, among other things, move these drugs behind the counter, and require customers to sign for them and show photo identification. It would be only a slight inconvenience for cold sufferers, but a major new obstacle for drug pushers. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth