Pubdate: Thu, 29 Dec 2005
Source: News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Copyright: 2005 The News and Observer Publishing Company
Contact: https://miva.nando.com/contact-us/letter-editor.html
Website: http://www.news-observer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/304
Author: Steve Hartsoe, The Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

FEDERAL MEASURE TO FIGHT METHAMPHETAMINE COULD ALTER STATE LAW

Pending federal legislation could force North Carolina to expand its 
own anti-methamphetamine law by further restricting the sale of cold 
medicines used to cook up the illicit drug.

The state law that takes effect Jan. 15 limits the sale of products 
such as Sudafed, Drixoral and Claritin-D, which contain the 
methamphetamine ingredients pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. North 
Carolina lawmakers chose not to restrict liquid or gel-cap forms of 
the medicine, or those specifically for children, because they said 
there had been no reports of this state's meth manufacturers using them.

But federal officials say meth cooks are using the gel caps 
elsewhere. Their measure would force the nation's retailers to store 
the caps behind store counters with other cold medicines that contain 
meth ingredients.

"The goal is to get ahead of the meth cooks," said Rich Chrismer, a 
spokesman for Sen. James Talent, the Missouri Republican who 
sponsored the anti-meth bill in the Senate.

Under the federal legislation, states could enact measures tougher 
than the federal standards, but they couldn't pass less restrictive 
laws, said a spokesman for co-sponsor Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a 
California Democrat.

N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper, an advocate for tougher 
methamphetamine laws, welcomed the federal law and the money and 
training it could bring to law enforcement officials.

He disagreed with allowing the federal law to trump state legislation.

"That's important because states can react very quickly to a problem. 
That's how we know this works," Cooper said.

Methamphetamine -- also called crank, crystal or ice -- is cheap to 
make and often is "cooked" in homes, cars, or motels. It's also easy to sell.

The drug's high lasts longer than those of other drugs, and users can 
stay awake for days at a time. Addiction leads to psychotic or 
violent behavior and brain damage. Withdrawal symptoms include 
depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia and aggression.

Meth use began in the West and has been spreading east for years. 
North Carolina's foothill and mountain counties have been 
particularly besieged by the trade.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman