BEHIND THE COUNTER

Common cold medication like this would be unavailable on store shelves if
legislation that has already been approved by the state Senate and Assembly
is signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle. The measure is designed to stem
methamphetamine production.

Cold sufferers may soon have to present photo identification and sign a
logbook to purchase over-the-counter medicines such as Sudafed and Tylenol
Flu in an effort to curb the production of methaphetamines.

The legislation would require consumers to purchase cold medicine containing
pseudoephedrine from a pharmacist and would limit the amount of the drug a
consumer could purchase to 7.5 grams a month, or three 20 caplet boxes of
12-hour Sudafed.

Rick Franzen, manager of Piggly Wiggly, said he is not for or against the
proposal, but noted that surrounding states have such legislation.

"It will certainly hurt the regular sales of those items and be an
inconvenience for those customers," Franzen said. "It's no different than
when they put cigarettes behind the counter years ago."

The bill would ban gas stations or convenience stores without a pharmacist
from selling Sudafed. The restrictions would not include the liquid formula
or the gel caps, because it is far more difficult to produce methamphetamine
from these forms, said the bill's co-sponsor State Sen. Carol Roessler,
R-Oshkosh.

Methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug made from ordinary household
supplies, is also known as meth, ice and crystal meth.

"This is a problem of just enormous ramifications and it is coming our way,"
Roessler said. "It's the most dangerous and addictive drug, period."

The legislation passed the state Senate 33-0 and the state Assembly 92-6.
The legislation is awaiting approval from Gov. Jim Doyle.

State Rep. John Town-send, R-Fond du Lac, who voted in favor of the
legislation, said it's important to prevent manufacture of the drug.

"It's one of the unfortunate things where an over-the-counter medicine also
has an ingredient that has a basis for making meth," Townsend said.
"Anything we can do to prevent the production of this drug is a good thing."

The Wisconsin's Grocers Association estimates that the ban will affect
around 150 different over-the-counter medicines.

"The legislation very clearly will have a dramatic effect in Fond du Lac and
across the state," said Wisconsin Grocers Association President Brandon
Scholz.

"They (consumers) are going to have to purchase the product from a
pharmacist.

"They will no longer be able to sit at the counter and look at the boxes.

"Ninety-nine percent of consumers use it for legitimate purchases."

Minnesota and Iowa have passed similar legislation. Oklahoma lawmakers claim
the law has reduced methamphetamine labs in that state by 80 percent.