Pubdate: Fri, 11 Feb 2005
Source: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (MS)
Copyright: 2005 Journal Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.djournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/823
Author: Bobby Harrison
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

BILLS PASS TO LIMIT CRYSTAL METH INGREDIENT

JACKSON - Bills have passed to limit the sale of what is considered the 
main ingredient in crystal methamphetamine.

On Thursday, the House passed two separate bills that would limit the sale 
of pseudoephedrine-based drugs and ephedrine-based drugs. The Senate passed 
similar legislation earlier this week.

The drugs are used in various types of sinus medication, such as the 
brand-name Sudafed. It is also the primary ingredient in crystal meth, a 
home-made drug that narcotics agents say is highly addictive and now the 
No. 1 drug problem in Mississippi, especially in Northeast Mississippi.

"It is as addictive or more addictive than cocaine and you have all the 
ingredients to make it right there at Wal-Mart," said Sen. Sid Albritton, 
R-Picayune. "Can you imagine if you could do that with cocaine?"

Under the toughest piece of legislation that passed Thursday, the drug in 
tablet form could be sold only from a druggist and the person buying the 
drug would have to show identification.

That legislation was offered by Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, when 
he successfully amended a bill that would allow pharmacies to return 
high-cost drugs to the manufacturer.

The sinus medication in the liquid form would not be affected by the 
Holland amendment.

Other ideas passed, too

Under other bills approved to regulate the drug:

- - It would be kept behind the counter or in a lock box but could be sold at 
pharmacies or other retail stores.

- - A limit would be placed on the quantity one person could purchase.

* The quantity of the drug the retail store received and sold would be 
carefully tracked.

Attorney General Jim Hood of Houston has said that passing legislation 
dealing with crystal meth is his No. 1 legislative priority this year.

On Thursday, Hood's office did not have a position on which bill the 
attorney general preferred, but spokesman Jacob Ray said it is important to 
pass legislation this year.

"It is a national epidemic and a state epidemic," Ray said. "If we do not 
pass a bill, things are going to get worse because other states already 
have passed similar legislation." He meant that meth makers will be coming 
to Mississippi for their ingredients if they can't get them near home.

Ray said one reason the crystal meth problem is so bad in north Mississippi 
is because Tennessee already has enacted a law to put limits on the sale of 
pseudoephedrine-based drugs and ephedrine-based drugs. Arkansas is doing so.

Rep. Tommy Reynolds, D-Water Valley, said passing a tough version of the 
bill like proposed by Holland reduced the crystal meth problem by 90 
percent in Oklahoma.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom