Pubdate: Wed, 04 Dec 2002
Source: The Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2002, Southeast Missourian
Contact: http://www.semissourian.com/opinion/speakout/submit/
Website: http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Author: Linda Redeffer, Daily American Republic
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

BLUFF COUNCIL CONSIDERS PUTTING COLD PILLS BEHIND COUNTER

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night considered 
an ordinance that would put cold medicine and other products containing 
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine behind the counter.

Ephedrine is a major essential component of methamphetamine and is, 
according to police chief Danny Whiteley, regularly shoplifted. He said 
1,000 to 2,000 cold pills translates into $2,800 worth of methamphetamine.

City attorney Wally Duncan said he would look into the legality of how far 
the city can go with limiting the products' access before the Dec. 16 
meeting, when the council is expected to vote on the ordinance.

Area residents voiced their opinions at the meeting.

Curtis Stewart of Campbell, Mo., said he believes putting the pills behind 
the counter will only punish the people who legitimately buy it. Campbell 
said he comes to Poplar Bluff regularly to buy over-the-counter sinus and 
cold medicines in quantity because his children have asthma and he has 
sinus problems.

"The ordinance would not keep anyone from purchasing," countered Mayor 
Scott Faughn. "It would place them behind the counter so it would be harder 
to get them. Any law-abiding citizen would not care to ask for the medicine 
and be on their way to better health."

Russell Soames of Poplar Bluff, whose two stepsons have been involved with 
methamphetamine, suggested keeping a computer registry of people who buy 
ephedrine and make them sign for it when they buy it, an idea some city 
councilmen seemed to like, although it may not be constitutional.

Danny Eubanks of Poplar Bluff said, "We are a country of freedom of choice. 
You are restricting taking something off the shelf next to another product 
that does the same thing. If you pass this ordinance what are you going to 
do next? Will I have to get my D-cell batteries from behind the counter?"

Other products, such as battery acid, Liquid Fire and anhydrous ammonia go 
into making meth, Whiteley said, but there are substitutes for those 
products. But the one ingredient meth makers cannot do without is 
ephedrine, and that, he said, can be restricted enough to send them to 
another community.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom