Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jan 2005
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
Copyright: 2005 Richmond Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365
Author: Tammie Smith, Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DRUG PROPOSAL FACES OBSTACLES

Backers May Withdraw Or Rewrite Bills Designed To Fight Methamphetamine

State legislation that would require ordinary cold medications containing 
pseudoephedrine to be put behind pharmacy counters is losing momentum even 
as national lawmakers talk about enacting such a policy.

Pseudoephedrine, a widely used decongestant that opens clogged nasal 
passages, is contained in such products as Sudafed but is also used 
illicitly to make methamphetamine, a widely abused illegal drug known as 
"meth."

Dels. Terry G. Kilgore, R-Scott, and Clifford L. Athey Jr., R-Warren, have 
signed on to a bill that would require certain pseudoephedrine-containing 
products to be sold from behind pharmacy counters.

Opponents of the measure, chiefly retail industry and pharmacy groups, say 
a voluntary program launched by the state attorney general's office last 
year to detect people who may be buying commonly used products to make 
methamphetamine should be given a chance to work first.

Athey said there are discussions about withdrawing the bill or changing its 
language. "The spirit of the bill is to try to ensure that 
[pseudoephedrine] is not used illicitly," Athey said. "I will support 
whatever [Kilgore] decides to do." Kilgore is the bill's chief patron.

The legislation is similar to measures being introduced or already in place 
in other states. Oklahoma, for instance, last year enacted such a law that 
limits the sales of pseudoephedrine products to behind the counter, limits 
amounts that can be purchased during a month's time and requires a 
signature and photo identification.

There is national activity as well. Just this week, a coalition of 12 
Republican and Democratic senators announced support of legislation to put 
certain pseudoephedrine-containing products behind pharmacy counters.

Opponents say such measures inconvenience businesses and customers.

"In some of our stores, you are talking about 200 to 300 products that 
would have to be put behind the pharmacy counter, which are often not open 
as long as the store is open," said Laurie Peterson, president of the 
Virginia Retails Merchants Association. "It's inconvenient to the 
legitimate customer."

The association, Peterson said, supports and is a partner in "Virginia Meth 
Watch," a voluntary program to detect people buying products to make 
methamphetamine.

In the program, store employees are asked to be on the lookout for people 
buying suspicious quantities of pseudoephedrine-containing products and 
other material used in methamphetamine production, such as drain cleaner 
and coffee filters.

If an employee notices something or someone suspicious, they are asked to 
take note and fill out a form that is given to law enforcement. The forms 
ask for information such as the description of the suspicious person and 
vehicle information.

Cash registers may also be coded to block large quantity sales of 
suspicious products.

"There is no reason why someone needs three cases of cold medicine," said 
Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore.
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