Pubdate: Fri, 01 Jul 2005 Source: Montgomery Advertiser (AL) Copyright: 2005 The Advertiser Co. Contact: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/customerservice/letter.htm Website: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1088 Note: Letters from the newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) STARTING TODAY, COLD TABLETS WILL BE HARDER TO BUY Buying the decongestants ephedrine and pseudoephedrine will be more difficult for Alabama consumers, starting today. A new state law restricts the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine tablets because they are a key ingredient in the illegal drug methamphetamine, considered the No. 1 drug problem in Alabama. It requires that tablets where ephedrine or pseudoephedrine is the sole active ingredient must be kept behind the counter or in a locked display case in stores statewide. Anyone wanting to purchase the tablets will have to present identification and sign for the medication. Only two packages can be purchased at a time. Meanwhile, retailers are busy reshelving the products covered by the law. "We've spent all day trying to find out what the rules are. It's just very confusing," Harold Walden, owner of six Stop N Shop convenience stores in the Mobile area, said this week. Capt. Jeff Rogers of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board said the agency is in the preliminary stages of designing an enforcement plan for the law. The agency has not yet developed instructional materials to distribute to retailers, Rogers said. "It's going to be a monumental task," said Rogers, whose agency is responsible for regulation. The legislation, which had bipartisan support, passed on the final night of the regular legislative session May 16. Another bill -- creating a new crime of exposing children to a meth lab -- did not pass. Attorney General Troy King previously said he will try to pass the measure when the governor calls a special session to address the General Fund budget. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake