Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jul 2006 Source: New Mexican, The (Santa Fe, NM) Copyright: 2006 The Santa Fe New Mexican Contact: http://www.freenewmexican.com/emailforms/letters.php Website: http://www.freenewmexican.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/695 Author: David Miles Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) NEW LAWS - ID REQUIRED FOR MEDS WITH PSEUDOEPHEDRINE Measure outlawing cyber hunting also takes effect today Customers are now required to show photo identification to a pharmacist to buy medicine containing pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient used to make methamphetamine -- under a new state law that takes effect today. The measure is among more than 20 new laws taking effect today. It and a companion measure increasing criminal penalties for trafficking in methamphetamine are designed to combat the manufacture and distribution of the drug. Gov. Bill Richardson, who signed the legislation into law this year, said Friday that the measures will give law-enforcement officers better tools to fight meth dealers. "Along with the nearly $800,000 we are spending on meth treatment this year, these laws show that New Mexico is committed to throwing the book at those who manufacture and deal meth," Richardson said in a news release. Rep. John Heaton, D-Carlsbad, sponsored the pseudoephedrine measure, which says only licensed pharmacists, interns or technicians can sell a product containing pseudoephedrine, which is a common ingredient in cold medications. The new law requires customers to show their driver's license or another form of photo identification to buy a product containing pseudoephedrine. Consumers also must sign a log and are barred from buying more than 9 grams of a product containing pseudoephedrine within 30 days. Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, sponsored the meth-trafficking measure, which contains tougher penalties that make meth trafficking a second-degree felony for a first offense and a first-degree felony for subsequent violations. Other new laws taking effect today include: - -- The Family Opportunity Accounts Act, which overhauls a program offering savings accounts to low-income New Mexicans. A separate state budget measure includes $1.5 million in matching funds for the accounts. - -- A measure outlawing "cyber hunting," which lets Internet users controlling a camera shoot at animals in another location with a real gun. Several states, including Texas, banned the practice -- called "computerassisted remote hunting" in New Mexico's law -- after a Texas ranch gave Internet users the chance to shoot game. - -- A law transferring the New Mexico Film Museum from the Tourism Department to the Department of Cultural Affairs. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman