Pubdate: Fri, 04 Mar 2005
Source: Natchez Democrat, The (MS)
Copyright: 2005 Natchez Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2205
Note: Note: 150 word count limit on LTEs
Author: Julie Finley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

MISSISSIPPI PUTS LIMITS ON METH INGREDIENTS

NATCHEZ -- Metro Narcotics Cmdr. Cliff Cox spent the day Thursday watching 
the birth of a new bill aimed at reducing the production of crystal 
methamphetamine and the night on patrol, where he thought he smelled a meth 
lab.

Cox, and agents Karl Pree and Eric Kaho joined sheriffs and law enforcement 
officers from around the state to watch Gov. Haley Barbour sign a bill into 
law placing restrictions on the sale of cold medicines.

Though Cox, who often does much of his work at odd hours, didn't have much 
time to talk, he did say Thursday's passage of a bill placing restrictions 
on the sale of cold medicines will limit the availability of the major meth 
ingredients.

"It will help us combat this epidemic," Cox said. "But we are just going to 
have to wait and see how it's going to work."

The law requires retailers to store cold medicines containing ephedrine and 
pseudoephedrine in a locked display case behind the counter and within 30 
feet of a store cashier or under video surveillance.

The law also limits the amount of cold tablets sold to a customer to no 
more than two packages per transaction or six grams of pseudoephedrine or 
ephedrine.

Retailers can be charged with a misdemeanor for not obeying the law.

Cox said he expected the law to cut down on the medicines that are stolen 
from stores.

"Crystal meth is a problem in Adams County," Cox said. "We are seeing a 
good bit of it and it's going to be a problem. It's an epidemic we are 
going to have to fight."

Crystal meth is a drug that has emerged widely in the last few years and is 
growing in usage, Cox said. It is a powder "cooked" from ammonia lithium 
from car batteries and pseudoephedrine. It can be snorted, eaten or 
injected and is highly addictive.

Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Agent Jeff Killion told the Associated 
Press the bill will be useful because most addicts are paranoid when 
they're under the influence of the drug and will not want to attract 
attention to themselves as they try to get the cold medicine.
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