Pubdate: Thu, 17 Nov 2005
Source: Journal Standard, The (Freeport, IL)
Copyright: 2005 The Journal Standard
Contact: http://www.journalstandard.com/forms/letters/
Website: http://www.journalstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3182
Author: Travis Morse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

AUTHORITIES WARN THE PUBLIC ABOUT NEW METH LAWS

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Law enforcement officials from three states gathered
in Dubuque on Wednesday to send methamphetamine manufacturers a
message about the consequences of their actions. Namely, that those
traveling to other states to obtain the ingredient pseudoephedrine for
meth could end up in federal prison, officials say.

"People who continue to get involved in (meth) face serious
consequences," said Richard Murphy, criminal chief for the U.S.
Attorney's Office, Northern District of Iowa. "The laws are very
strict in this area."

The warning was issued at a special news conference hosted by Northern
District of Iowa U.S. Attorney Charles W. Larson Sr. The event comes
after recent laws passed in Iowa and Wisconsin that tighten control
over pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient used to make meth, states a
news release from Larson's office.

A similar Illinois law regulating this meth ingredient was signed into
law Wednesday and will take effect Jan. 15, 2006. The legislation,
known as the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act, makes
pseudoephedrine a controlled substance, meaning that almost all
products containing this active ingredient must be kept behind
pharmacy counters, the news release states.

Although customers wishing to purchase such products do not need a
prescription, they must display a photo ID and sign a log, the release
states. Also under this legislation, customers may not purchase more
than two packages of a product containing pseudoephedrine or more than
7,500 milligrams in a 30-day period, officials say.

Iowa's new meth law went into effect in May and Murphy said officials
are already seeing significantly fewer meth labs in the state. He also
said federal laws regarding meth manufacturing are very strict and
offenders can often face a minimum of 10 years in prison or longer,
depending on the circumstances of the case.

In addition to addressing the tougher laws, officials at Wednesday's
conference also discussed the history of cooperation in prosecuting
drug manufacturers and vowed to continue that cooperation at the
local, state and federal levels, the release states.

Larson was joined at the conference by numerous law enforcement
personnel in the tri-state area, including Jo Daviess County Sheriff
Steve Allendorf. To Allendorf, the conference was important as it put
illegal drug manufacturers on notice that those traveling between
states to obtain meth ingredients will be prosecuted.

"This is a combined effort," Allendorf said. "We are taking this
problem seriously and we are addressing it."

Allendorf also emphasized the importance of citizens reporting to
authorities anything suspicious that could be a meth lab. Often meth
labs are discovered by citizens noticing something "out of the
ordinary" and reporting it to police, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin