TALENT WANTS FEDERAL COLD-MED BILL

Limits on pseudoephedrine sales would be even stricter than those passed in
Missouri.

Limits on pseudoephedrine sales would be even stricter in Missouri and
would extend to all states — under federal legislation U.S. Sen. Jim Talent
is proposing. Under a state law Gov. Matt Blunt signed Wednesday, buyers
are limited during any 30 days to 9 grams of the decongestant, which is
used both legally in some cold medications and illegally in the manufacture
of methamphetamine.

That equals about 75 120-milligram tablets of, say, Sudafed.

But Talent is floating the idea of limiting sales to 7 1/2 grams, or about
125 60-milligram tablets.

He's also considering other ideas rejected by Blunt and Missouri lawmakers
— including sales restrictions on the liquid and liquid gel cap forms of
pseudoephedrine.

Those types are more difficult to use in the manufacture of meth but could
become more attractive given a restricted pill supply.

"We're trying for once on this issue to stay ahead of the meth cooks,"
Talent said Friday during a Springfield meeting with area leaders.

The bill, as now written, would restrict sales to 9 grams. Talent has yet
to amend the legislation to reflect the lower proposal.

The senator, who has begun holding fundraisers for an anticipated run for
re-election, invited the news media to the gathering at the Child Advocacy
Center.

Retailers and consumers would have to abide by the stricter federal
standard if it passed.

The legislation — co-sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is far
from becoming law, though. It has yet to receive a hearing.

Blunt's father, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Strafford, filed an identical bill
in the House.

Missouri's state statute has taken effect but gives retailers until July 15
to remove pills containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine from their shelves.

Pharmacies, the only retailers that will be able to sell pseudoephedrine,
have until Sept. 13 to begin logging the names and addresses of buyers, and
the amounts they purchase.

Talent said he's also open to a database to track ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine sales, another idea rejected by the state.

Republic mayor Jim Collins, who attended the meeting, said the
responsibility of fighting meth belongs to everyone.

His town is looking for at least 500 volunteers, people in different
neighborhoods, to learn how to detect meth labs and users and how to train
others to do the same.

Collins is asking businesses to get in on the act, too, whether or not they
sell legal precursor chemicals such as pseudoephedrine and lithium, found
in batteries.

"It may cut their sales a little bit," Collins said. "But I think they have
enough conscious to know it's not always about money."

The Talent-Feinstein legislation also would provide federal funding to help
children found to be living near meth labs and to assist police and prosecutors.