NATIONWIDE LEGISLATION COULD BE THE ANSWER

Missouri's Talent, Blunt Sponsoring Bills to Put Pseudoephedrine Sales
Behind the Counter

Oklahoma's law restricting pseudoephedrine sales is creating a domino
effect in state capitols across the country. As more states consider
similar laws of their own, even those who object say a federal
approach might make more sense.

"Unless they do something nationally, this problem is not going to be
completely solved," said Dave Overfelt, president of the Missouri
Retailers Association.

Oklahoma allows only pharmacists or registered assistants to sell
Sudafed and other tablets containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient
in making meth. Consumers don't need a prescription but must show
photo identification and sign for the purchases.

The law is aimed at cutting off the supply to meth cooks, but it also
sends addicts to neighboring states where limits aren't so tough.

"Right now, we ought to be concerned about people from Oklahoma coming
to Missouri," Gov. Matt Blunt said recently in support of legislation
that would mirror Oklahoma's law.

The piecemeal approach to restrictions doesn't square up with U.S.
Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo.

Last week, he and two other senators filed legislation that would
enact nationwide restrictions like those Oklahoma touts as the state's
most effective weapon yet in the war on meth.

"I don't think there's a strong argument against this idea," Talent
said. "The basic idea, I think, is necessary."

Congressman Roy Blunt, R-Strafford, the governor's father, is
sponsoring a companion bill.

Dubbed the "Combat Meth Act," the Talent and Blunt legislation would
also move pseudoephedrine products behind the counter. Sales would be
limited to nine grams in a 30-day period.

"If we're serious about restricting the illegal production of
methamphetamine, we must restrict the sale of pseudoephedrine to those
who will use it for its proper purposes," Roy Blunt said in a prepared
statement.

The federal law would classify pseudoephedrine as a Schedule V drug,
which would allow the U.S. Department of Justice to track sales to
pharmacies.

Overfelt, who represents Missouri store owners who would be hurt by a
similar bill in the General Assembly, has concerns about the state
legislation.

But, he said, passing restrictions state by state only moves the
problem down the road.

"I really feel that if we're going to do these things, it should be
nationwide because nothing's going to stop these people from buying
them over the mail, over the Internet, going to states that don't go
this far, etc.," he said.

The legislation doesn't address mail and Internet sales -- avenues
police say are rarely used for the mom-and-pop labs they're more
concerned about.

The Talent and Blunt bills would also provide $30 million in
funding:

$15 million for local and state police for training and equipment,
prosecution and environmental cleanup.

$5 million to hire federal prosecutors and to train local and state
attorneys in state and federal meth laws. State attorneys would be
allowed to charge meth offenders in federal courts under tougher guidelines.

$5 million to help children affected by meth production.

$5 million for states and for businesses that sell pseudoephedrine
products to train police and employees to monitor sales.

States could apply for federal money to build a computer network to
monitor pseudoephedrine purchases.

Phil Woodward, executive director of the Oklahoma Pharmacists
Association, said a federal law would mean Missouri and other states
wouldn't have to adopt laws of their own.

But he believes each state should be able to decide whether it wants
restrictions.

"I think it's just a matter of state rights versus federal rights,"
said Woodward, whose group supports the Oklahoma law.

Talent disagrees, saying officials have waited too long to deal with
an epidemic that doesn't stop at the state line.

"It's like a cancer that's spreading," he said.

"When you treat a cancer like that, you've got to deal with the places
where it's going, too."