Pubdate: Mon, 01 Aug 2005
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2005 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ANTI-METH LAWS EASE THE PROBLEM

Now Congress Is Considering Adopting A New Law From The
States

For several years now, people have used common products to cook up a
powerful drug in their homes. The epidemic of methamphetamine that has
hit the nation has concentrated largely in rural areas.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Nik Green was shot and killed on the
day after Christmas 2003 on a traffic check. An investigation of the
trunk of the car revealed the driver was about to set up a meth lab.

Meth requires either ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, ingredients common
in over-the-counter cold remedies.

Oklahoma legislators reacted to Green's death by making these cold
drugs go back behind the counters. The law requires purchasers to show
a photo ID and to sign a log. Pharmacists agreed and the law took
effect last year.

This year, Gov. Joe Manchin pushed lawmakers to pass a similar law.
The Legislature readily agreed. And the law's impact was felt almost
immediately. Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford is convinced of
that.

"We've gone from busting three or four labs a day to busting two or
three labs a week," Rutherford told reporter George Gannon last week.

The slowdown in calls to this department's tip hotline does not bother
him. Rutherford said, "In all honesty, I'm hopeful we're making such a
big dent in the problem, the people aren't seeing it as much so we're
not getting as many tips."

The apparent success of these Nik Green laws has caught the eye of
Congress.

The Senate Judiciary Committee crafted a federal law that would place
restrictions on these cold medications. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and
others are making sure the federal law would not pre-empt efforts in
his state and others that already are on the books. The committee
agreed and sent to the floor a bill that protects state laws.

The West Virginia congressional delegation needs no instruction on
such legislation. The need for federal legislation is real. Even
non-prescription medications must be handled with care.

The overarching lesson here is that federalism still works. Not all
the wisdom of the republic resides in Washington.

State officials in Oklahoma and other states felt the problem first
and dealt with it quickly. They taught the national leaders.

Members of Congress should always keep that in mind.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin