Pubdate: Tue, 22 Mar 2005
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Section: Page B1
NEWS02/503220377/1025/NEWS02
Copyright: 2005 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Note: Source rarely prints LTEs received from outside its circulation area
Author: Lesley Stedman Weidenbener
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HOUSE VOTES TO RESTRICT SALES OF COLD MEDICINE

House Passes Bill That Requires Voters To Show An ID

INDIANAPOLIS -- The House passed a bill yesterday that would limit to 
pharmacy counters the sale of cough, cold and allergy medicines that can be 
used to make methamphetamine.

Senate Bill 444 takes medicines containing pseudoephedrine out of 
convenience stores, truck stops and some groceries in an attempt to stem 
the production of meth, which police have described as a scourge across 
Indiana.

The House approved the bill 90-6.

"This is the right approach," said Rep. Trent Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon. 
"We're getting at the root of the problem."

But the bill is destined for a conference committee, where lawmakers will 
seek a compromise between the House version of the bill and the less 
restrictive Senate version.

As passed by the Senate, the bill restricted the amount of cough medicine 
customers could buy to two packages of 48 tablets or pills per week but 
allowed all stores to sell it, as long as they took additional precautions 
to prevent theft and track purchases.

Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, the author of the bill, said last week he 
could not support putting the cold medicines behind pharmacy counters 
because it would harm too many retailers.

"This bill is going to end up in conference committee because the retailers 
have concerns," said the bill's House sponsor, Rep. Bill Friend, R-Macy. 
"They have major concerns. The authors have said we will work with you and 
get some compromise as long as we can address the meth problems."

Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, said lawmakers should be toughening penalties 
against meth users and dealers, rather than imposing restrictions on all 
Hoosiers.

"We're making law-abiding citizens -- our friends and neighbors -- jump 
through hoops to buy cold medicine because some people commit crimes with 
them," Torr said.

But most legislators said yesterday they are willing to restrict the 
purchase of cold medicine if it will help curb the meth problem.

"Meth is now the new drug of convenience.   It is an epidemic," said Rep. 
Bruce Borders, R-Jasonville. "Our jails are full."

As passed yesterday, SB 444 would classify medicines containing 
pseudoephedrine and ephedrine as Schedule Five drugs, which means they must 
be kept behind a pharmacy counter and dispensed only by a licensed 
pharmacist. Buyers also would be required to show a photo ID and sign a log.

"There's support for this from the state police, the prosecutor's 
association, public defenders and the sheriff's association," said Rep. 
John Ulmer, R-Goshen.

The bill is based on an Oklahoma law that supporters say has reduced the 
number of meth labs in that state by 70 percent.
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