METH BILL MAKES IT PAST FIRST HURDLE

Measure To Restrict Sales Of Pseudoephedrine Faces Another Senate Vote,
Then Goes To House.

Jefferson City -- The Senate gave first-round approval Tuesday to a bill
modeled on Oklahoma law that would restrict sales of a popular decongestant
used by some to make methamphetamine.

Under the measure, only pharmacists or registered technicians could sell
Sudafed and other starch-based cold tablets that contain pseudoephedrine.

Buyers would have to be at least 18 and show photo identification. Their
names and addresses would be collected and made available to law enforcement.

"Missouri is losing the war on meth," Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield,
said in support of the restrictions. "... And we don't see anything in the
future that is going to reduce this, unless we take measures to prevent the
production of meth."

Sen. John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, is the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 10, which
incorporates legislation filed by Champion.

The Senate will need to vote on the bill one more time to move it to the
House. A House committee voted to forward a similar version to the full
House on Tuesday.

Under either bill, prescriptions would not be required for pseudoephedrine
tablets, unless a buyer wanted more than 9 grams -- roughly 75
120-milligram tablets or 150 60-milligram tablets -- within a 30-day period.

Any retailer could sell liquids and liquid gel caps, and prescriptions
would not be needed for those forms, no matter the amount purchased. People
of any age could buy liquids or liquid gel caps.

Under SB10, sales of the two forms would be limited to 9 grams per
purchase, but the products could be bought an unlimited number of times.

The Senate endorsed the legislation in a voice vote after the bill was
amended to loosen restrictions on liquid and liquid gel caps. At least two
senators said they didn't want to include those forms, which typically
aren't used to make meth.

Some worry meth cooks will find a way to use liquids and liquid gel caps if
only sales of starch-based tablets are restricted.

Lt. Sid Conklin of the Missouri Highway Patrol said restrictions could be
tightened later if police find that liquids and liquid gel caps are being
used to make meth.

"We're not saying it's impossible, but it's not a concern to us right now,"
he said during a telephone interview.

Cauthorn initially resisted attempts to loosen restrictions on liquids and
liquid gel caps but eventually amended his bill to address concerns.

Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, who supported the amended version, thinks
treatment should be considered in combating meth as well. He's still
concerned that proposed state cuts to Medicaid would affect treatment
programs for meth addicts.

Restricting sales of pseudoephedrine could help, Graham said, but he also
wants the state to address the symptoms of addiction.

"Oklahoma just moved the problem," Graham said. "They didn't solve the
problem."

Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, asked why it was important to
restrict sales of tablets only to pharmacies. He and others said sick
people who don't plan ahead might not be able to get medication under the
proposal.

"I'm concerned about the application of law, and what I mean is the law
should not be a straitjacket," Callahan said. "It should be a suit of
clothes that we can wear comfortably."

Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, said the bill might not go far enough.

"I really wish we could restrict the sale -- ban the sale totally -- of
pseudoephedrine," he said.