Pubdate: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 Source: Hickory Daily Record (NC) Copyright: 2005 Hickory Daily Record Contact: http://www.hickoryrecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1109 THINK TWICE ABOUT PILL LAW Legislators Are Making Hay on a Plan to Restrict Some Cold Medicines, but We Hope a Majority Hop Off That Wagon. The concern about the increase in the manufacture and use of methamphetamine, or meth, has law enforcement and lawmakers grabbing at anything that looks like a way to slow down the illegal drug. The active ingredient in some cold medicines, such as Sudafed, is the key component of meth. A proposal in the General Assembly would control access to the methamphetamine family of legal medicines. Some legislators want the tablets dispensed only at pharmacies. Others say requiring identification and recording the sale of such medicines are adequate. The goal is to track who buys the medicine in quantity and make accumulation of legal meth pills difficult. Thus, making illegal meth would be tougher. The push in the General Assembly has been given impetus by Attorney General Roy Cooper, who first articulated the idea of restricting access. North Carolina isn't the only state on that track. The South Carolina attorney general wants a pill-control law. We understand the dangers of making and using meth. We should support law officers' efforts to stem the meth tide. But we don't think strict controls on a legal, beneficial drug sold over the counter is the answer. If we shackle the dispensing of safe products that can be used to make dangerous substances, there won't be much left on the shelves that won't require an ID and a signature. Will we restrict floor wax, cough remedies, fertilizer, hammers and household bleach? How about gasoline? Consumer products already are regulated with safety in mind. We think concentrating our efforts on shrinking the market for meth is a better approach than penalizing consumers. We cannot fault stores with pharmacies for deciding to pull their meth pills behind the counter. But what about supermarkets and convenience stores that sell cold medicine? People depend on those stores for their over-the-counter pharmaceutical needs. We do not advocate hamstringing our law officers in their war on drugs, but we don't think restricting the access to medicine will result in a windfall of meth arrests. It will anger and frustrate law-abiding consumers who shouldn't have to carry a pill license. Lawmakers should think twice before signing up for this feel-good approach to drug busting. - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)