Pubdate: Wed, 02 Mar 2005
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2005 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HOUSE TO CONSIDER METH INGREDIENT BILL

Would Restrict Sale Of Cold, Allergy Pills

FRANKFORT - The state House is scheduled to take up legislation today aimed 
at curbing manufacture of illicit meth-amphetamine and regulating shipments 
of addictive prescription pills into the state by online pharmacies.

House members planned to vote on the bill yesterday but were asked by the 
bill's Senate sponsor to wait a day, said House Majority Leader Rocky 
Adkins, D-Sandy Hook.

The senator, Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said in an interview that he 
requested the extra time so he could meet with Rep. Frank Rasche, a Paducah 
Democrat, who has filed several amendments relating to meth-amphetamine 
provisions.

Some of the bill's backers say the changes would "gut" its effectiveness in 
controlling production of the dangerous and addictive stimulant.

The current bill would limit the sale of cold and allergy tablets that 
contain a key ingredient used by most home-built meth labs. A person could 
buy no more than 9 grams per month, or about 300 tablets, of medicine 
containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, if the bill is 
passed in its present form. The restrictions would not apply to liquids or 
gel-caps.

The bill would also allow only pharmacists or pharmacist technicians to 
sell the pills, and buyers would have to sign for purchases and show 
identification.

But Rasche said he is concerned that limiting sales of the tablets only to 
pharmacies would create "a cartel and a monopoly." His amendment would 
delete that restriction.

Rasche conceded yesterday that he doubted the amendment would pass. He and 
Stivers met yesterday afternoon and both said afterward that they still 
disagreed on the issue.

The other major provisions of the bill would require state licensing of 
Internet pharmacies and make it a felony for an unlicensed pharmacy to 
distribute drugs in Kentucky.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom