SENATE GIVES FIRST OK TO ANTI-DRUG MEASURE

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Sales of cold medicines containing chemicals used to
make methamphetamine would be limited under a bill receiving initial Senate
approval.

The measure would make it a felony to sell more than 96 tablets at a time
of medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine.

Lawful prescriptions and sales between wholesalers and retailers would be
exempt.

"I think everybody is concerned about the problem," said Sen. Anita Yeckel,
R-St. Louis, who sponsored the measure as an amendment to a larger bill
approved Tuesday by voice vote. It was sponsored by Senate President Pro
Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau.