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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake