IOWA'S NEW METH RULES: TOUGHEST IN THE NATION

Consumers Will Have Less Access To Cold Medicine

Iowans would have to show identification and sign their names to buy any
medicine containing pseudoephedrine and they would have to go to the
pharmacy for most products under legislation expected to be signed by the
governor as early as Monday.

The Iowa Senate and House on Wednesday unanimously approved what is
believed to be the toughest bill in the country regulating sales of
pseudoephedrine, methamphetamine's main ingredient.

Senate Bill 169 was put on the fast track by legislators Wednesday
afternoon after receiving approval by a bipartisan conference committee.
Legislators said the compromise proposal would undoubtedly limit consumer
access to many popular cold and allergy medicines, but it also is expected
to reduce meth labs by more than 50 percent.

Gov. Tom Vilsack said he would probably sign the bill as soon as Monday. If
he does, the law would go into effect in late May.

"This is the most significant crime measure we've passed in quite some
time," Vilsack said. "Obviously, the sooner we get it implemented, the
better off we'll be."

The deal struck Wednesday was widely praised by those who wanted the state
to take a bold step to address the high cost, dangers and child abuse
associated with hundreds of small, toxic meth labs in the state. It also
was supported by those who wanted to ensure retail access to medications
for consumers.

However, several state leaders warned that the bill would not end the
state's meth problems.

"This is not a silver bullet," warned state Sen. Bob Brunkhorst, a
Republican from Waverly. "I'm sure we'll be back here next year on
something else related to meth."

State Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a Democrat from Des Moines, said the bill also
amounted to the "strongest and smartest" proposal aimed at curbing meth
production so far in the country.

As amended, the measure is more restrictive than an 11-month-old Oklahoma
law, which led to a more than 60 percent reduction in meth labs. It also
goes further to curtail sales of liquid pseudoephedrine products than did
laws in Oklahoma and other states, including Minnesota, Kansas and
Missouri, that have introduced similar measures.

Under the measure, all Iowa stores would be allowed to sell one small
package or bottle of liquid or gel-caps containing pseudoephedrine per
person per day, while sales of higher-dose products and all tablet forms of
the medicines would be restricted to pharmacies. Buyers at pharmacies and
stores would have to show government-issued identification and sign a log
to make purchases.

Consumers could not purchase more than 7,500 milligrams of pseudoephedrine
products in a 30-day period without a doctor's prescription. Retailers and
consumers could face criminal or civil penalties for exceeding daily and
monthly sales limits.

Several law enforcement officials voiced support for the compromise, saying
the liquid products that will be sold more widely in stores statewide are
much more difficult to "cook" into meth than tablets.

"I think we've finally arrived at some very good public policy," said
Marvin Van Haaften, the state's drug policy director.

The bill would allow parents to purchase one small bottle of many popular
pediatric medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

However, Jim West, a lobbyist for retailers, predicted many stores,
especially in rural Iowa, would stop selling the products because of the
measure's costs and other hassles.

The bill requires stores selling the liquid products to keep them behind
counters or in locked cabinets. Retailers also would have to keep logbooks
containing the names and addresses of pseudoephedrine buyers for up to a year.

West also said he was concerned that parents could not buy products for
both an infant and an older child in one stop, without going to more than
one store.

State Sen. Keith Kreiman, a Democrat from Bloomfield, said he was concerned
that law-abiding Iowans were being asked to sacrifice a lot for the
measure. However, he added: "I am even more confident that with the passage
of this law we will have fewer meth labs by more than half."

Law enforcement officials said they had discovered two meth labs in Iowa in
which liquid pseudoephedrine products were used. Some legislators predicted
that meth cooks would turn to mail-order or Internet sales to buy cold
pills needed to make the highly addictive drug.

However, House Democratic Leader Pat Murphy said, "If we find out there's
any problem at all with liquid products or gel caps, we will back here next
year to address that issue."

Legislators also said they believe the measure will cut down on the number
of Iowans arrested repeatedly for meth-cooking.

The bill includes a provision requiring those arrested for manufacturing
and related crimes to receive a substance abuse evaluation and supervision
by a probation officer before they can be released on bond from jail while
awaiting trial.

Legislators expedited the amended measure in part to pre-empt several local
ordinances restricting pseudoephedrine sales around Iowa that were set to
go into effect this spring.

The measure also would immediately require all products containing
ephedrine to be sold in pharmacies.

[Sidebar]

What It Means

In Stores
Here are some of the pseudoephedrine liquid or gel cap
medicines that will remain available in stores in amounts of 360
milligrams or less:

Infant Pediacare, Children's Pedia Care, Children's Motrin, Vick's Nyquil,
Triaminic Cold & Cough, Sudafed Cold & Cough, Sudafed Sinus & Cold.

Pharmacies Only
Here are examples of some medicines that will be
available only in pharmacies because of their pseudoephedrine potency
or packaging:

Vicks 44D Decongestant, Robitussin PE 4 oz., TopCare Tussing CF 4 oz.,
Advil Allergy Sinus, Tylenol Flu Night Time 24-count, Tylenol Allergy
Sinus 24-count.