Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005
Source: Quad-City Times (IA)
Copyright: 2005 Quad-City Times
Contact:  http://www.qctimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857
Author: Todd Dorman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH BILL PASSED TO VILSACK

DES MOINES - Iowa lawmakers swiftly approved legislation Wednesday creating 
the nation's toughest limits on the sale of pseudoephedrine, a common, 
legal cold medication used to make the illegal stimulant methamphetamine.

The House and Senate embraced a compromise bill just hours after it was 
crafted by a special panel of lawmakers. Passage sends it to Gov. Tom 
Vilsack, who praised lawmakers and said he will sign the bill next week.

"It is an indication of what can happen when we work in a bipartisan way. 
It is an indication of what happens when we focus on the common good," he said.

The bill was approved 50-0 in the Senate and 98-0 in the House.

"This is a major victory in the war on meth labs in Iowa. I really believe 
it," said Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, a retired state trooper who led 
the charge for tighter limits. "Within days after this goes into effect, 
you will see results and I think they'll be dramatic. I certainly hope so."

Under the bill, most cold, flu and allergy remedies containing 
pseudoephedrine - a nasal decongestant - would be sold only in pharmacies. 
Other retail outlets, such as convenience stores, would be allowed to sell 
small doses of liquid or gel-capsule medications.

Thousands of Iowans who buy pseudoephedrine would be required to display 
valid identification and sign a logbook.

Backers predicted the bill will help cut the supply of pseudoephedrine to 
meth "cookers" who need it to concoct the highly addictive drug in hidden, 
volatile labs. Iowa law enforcement officers seized a record 1,427 meth 
labs statewide last year while addicts continue to jam jails and treatment 
facilities.

In Oklahoma, a similar law approved in 2004 is credited with slicing the 
number of meth lab seizures in half.

The bill designates the solid, tablet form of pseudoephedrine as a Schedule 
V controlled substance, which could be dispensed only by a pharmacist. 
Purchases would be limited to no more than 7,500 milligrams in a single month.

Non-pharmacy retailers would be allowed to sell liquid and gel-capsule 
medications containing a smaller amount of pseudoephedrine - 360 milligrams 
or less. Those products would be kept under lock and key and purchases 
would be limited to one package per day. The ID and log book requirements 
also would apply to those sales.

The bill sets criminal and civil penalties for store employees and 
consumers who break the law, including fines ranging from $100 to $500. It 
also increases penalties aimed at those who try to steal pseudoephedrine.

Lawmakers contend that the liquid-gel capsule exception allows retail 
stores, especially in rural areas without pharmacies, to continue selling 
cold remedies. They insist it is much harder to make meth from 
pseudoephedrine in its liquid form.

But Jerry Fleagle, the president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association, 
contends that the restrictions still go too far. He said, for instance, 
that the 360-milligram limit means a mother with a sick infant and an ill 
older child could not buy medicine for both at her local convenience store.

The grocery association wanted a two-package purchase limit.

"I don't want to be the mother that has to make that choice," Fleagle said. 
"Maybe we'll have to post the legislators' phone numbers and have that 
mother call them."

Bill supporters argued that the tight limits are needed to stop meth makers 
from hopping between stores to get the ingredients they need.

Several states are exploring pseudoephedrine sales limits, but drug control 
agents, Vilsack and lawmakers say none of those measures contain the kind 
of limits on liquid products and on monthly purchases that are in Iowa's 
measure. Most exempt all liquid products from purchase limits and allow 
consumers to buy 9,000 milligrams or more each month.

"There are 20 or more states considering restrictions. This is very much 
the best, the most restrictive of all Schedule V proposals in the nation," 
said Marvin Van Haaften, a former county sheriff who directs the Governor's 
Office of Drug Control Policy.

Lawmakers concede that the fight against meth is far from won. Less than 20 
percent of Iowa's meth is cooked locally with the rest smuggled in from out 
of state.

But law enforcement agencies argue that shutting down labs would free up 
personnel and resources to focus on trafficking.

"Every year, we tackle methamphetamine. This is only a step in the 
process," said Sen. Bob Brunkhorst, R-Waverly, who helped craft the 
legislation. "I think you can feel proud that we will make an impact."
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MAP posted-by: Beth