HEARING TODAY ON BILL TO LIMIT SALE OF DRUG USED TO MAKE ICE

Some over-the-counter decongestants that provide relief from cold and
allergy symptoms could be placed under lock and key in order to stem
the manufacture of illegal drugs on island.

Lawmakers today will hold a public hearing on Bill 140, which would
limit the sale of any drug that contains pseudoephedrine, a legal
medication that also is the key component in the illicit manufacture
of methamphetamine, or "ice," in underground laboratories.

Customers would be prohibited from buying more than two items that
contain pseudoephedrine within a 24-hour period. They also would be
prohibited from purchasing more than nine grams of pseudoephedrine
every 30 days, the bill states.

Julius Fernando, president of the Guam Pharmacists Association, said
many pharmacists support the bill's intent, but believe it needs to be
clarified.

As an example, the bill states that "Sudafed" is the only
over-the-counter medication that has pseudoephedrine as the single
active ingredient. In fact, other brands, including generic brands,
list pseudoephedrine as the main ingredient, he said.

It also is unclear which types of medicines the sale and display
restrictions would apply to, he said.

"I think we'd just like to see further research or maybe just better
wording to clarify the bill before it's passed," Fernando said.

Dolores Hite, who helps manage her father's store, the Onedera Store,
said the store already keeps cold and flu medicines in locked
cabinets, mainly to prevent the small items from being shoplifted.

Hite said she's heard of Bill 140 but is more aware of a similar bill
going through Congress, which has a similar intent.

"I'm just not sure which law would apply to us retailers," Hite
said.

There is no federal law currently in place to regulate the sale of
pseudoephedrine, so individual states are taking the lead by passing
their own laws, said Charles Troutman, consumer counsel at the
attorney general's office.

Troutman said that even if a federal law is passed, states can impose
stricter laws.

If the bill becomes law, the Department of Public Health and Social
Services would be responsible for enforcing its provisions.