Pubdate: Wed, 18 May 2005
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (Scottsboro, AL)
Copyright: 2005 The Daily Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.thedailysentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1681
Author: Mazie Aldrich, The Daily Sentinel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH LEGISLATION PASSES

In what legislators describe as "almost unheard of'" the meth
legislation unanimously passed the Alabama Senate in the final hours
of session.

Senator Lowell Barron (D-Fyffe) said the legislation was the only
legislation beyond budgetery matters that was brought up for passage
by the floor.

"We as lawmakers realized the need to do everything possible to halt
the production of this deadly drug," Barron said. " With passage of
this legislation to control and monitor the sell of products
containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, we have made it more
difficult for meth manufacturers to obtain the essential ingredient of
the drug."

The new legsilation requires that certain products containing
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine be placed behind the counter and that
purchasers show photo identification and sign a register in order to
purchase the product.

Legislators anticipate that the new bill will reduce the number of
meth labs in the state. Surrounding states have passed similar
legislation in recent months. Oklahoma passed legislation last year
requiring the sell of pseudoephedrine to be from a pharmicist only.
That legislation caused the drug bust to drop approximately 90 percent
in the course of eight months.

"Unfortunately, those who have legitimate needs for the
over-the-counter cold and allergy products will be inconvenienced by
this act," Barron said. "But we must do everything possible to keep
this deadly, toxic drug from being produced. It is destroying lives
and homes all across our country, and it is costing our states
hundreds of thousands of dollars in cleanup and law enforcement
expenditures," Barron said.

Barron sponsored the legislation in the Senate and Rep. Frank McDaniel
(D-Albertville) sponsored the legislation in the House of
Representatives.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake