LAW WOULD RESTRICT DECONGESTANT SALES

A popular cold and sinus remedy soon may be restricted to behind-the-counter
sales in Pacific.

Pacific aldermen at their Feb. 4 meeting introduced legislation that would
mandate that all products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine be kept
behind the counter at retail outlets, requiring customers to ask for the
product if they want to make a purchase.

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are active ingredients in popular
over-the-counter decongestant products.

But ephedrine and pseudoephedrine also are commonly used in the manufacture
of methamphetamine, said Pacific police Chief Ron Reed.

Reed recommended the city adopt the legislation restricting the sale of
products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

"We've had some problems in the past with theft, because these products were
so accessible," Reed said. "Now, most of the sales (of ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine products) are behind the counter anyway, but this restricts
all sales."

Reed also asked aldermen to adopt legislation that would prohibit anyone
from possessing anhydrous ammonia - another key component in the illegal
manufacture of methamphetamine - in an unapproved container.

The legislation won't stop anyone from transporting anhydrous ammonia for a
legal use in approved containers, such as tank trucks, railroad tank cars or
agricultural field applicator, Reed said.

"But if someone is carrying it, for example, in a small gas bottle like you
use for a barbecue grill, then they're obviously not going to be fertilizing
a field with it," Reed said.

If Pacific aldermen adopt the legislation, it not only would make it illegal
to carry anhydrous ammonia in an unapproved container, but also would allow
city police to issues a summons for the offense through municipal court.

"This will help us tremendously when it comes to handling small offenses
through city court," Reed said.

Reed said both pieces of proposed legislation are examples of city officials
being proactive when it comes to addressing the problem of manufacture and
sale of methamphetamine.

Meth problem focus of forum

Controlling the illegal manufacture and sale of methamphetamine will be the
focus of a forum set for later this month in Pacific.

U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, 9th District, will host the forum Feb. 23 at the
Pacific Eagles Hall, 707 W. Congress St.

The invitation-only forum will bring together law enforcement officers,
judges and prosecutors to discuss the methamphetamine problem. Hulshof will
give an overview of how the federal government can aid in the fight to
control the manufacture, distribution and sale of methamphetamine in
Missouri.

"It's a lot easier for smaller agencies, such as ours, when we work together
as a team rather than an individual department to fight the methamphetamine
problem," said Pacific police Chief Ron Reed. "We're happy Pacific will be
hosting this forum, and we hope Congressman Hulshof will be able to offer us
more assistance when it comes to the methamphetamine problem."

In 2001, Missouri led the nation with 2,137 seizures of methamphetamine
labs, dumpsites and locations of inactive labs, according to statistics from
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

In 2002, Franklin County was third in the state in the number of
methamphetamine lab seizures, behind Jasper and Jefferson counties.

Reed said in the last seven years, the number of people seeking treatment
for methamphetamine use is up 600 percent nationwide.

"It's a disease," Reed said. "Unfortunately, people who become addicted also
may become violent and that may lead to other crimes."

Although he declined to talk about specifics, Reed said there is a lot of
work being done in Pacific and Franklin County to curb the sales and
possession of methamphetamine.

Reed said U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond already has secured an additional $1
million to aid in the fight against the methamphetamine problem in the state
and he hopes Hulshof also will be able to help bring more money into
Missouri to assist local law enforcement.

Hulshof recently added his signature to a letter requesting funding for
anti-drug programs and drug enforcement programs supported by Edward Byrne
Memorial Formula Grants (Byrne Grants).

The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program
was established in 1988 by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act. The program uses grants
to finance a variety of anti-drug efforts, including multijurisdictional
drug enforcement teams as well as anti-drug education, treatment and
alternative sentencing programs.

In the 9th District, the Mineral Area Drug Task Force uses Byrne Grants
partially to fund the agency. The task force is comprised of five Missouri
Highway Patrol troopers and five task force agents who assist with drug
enforcement activities in 13 counties in the St. Louis area.

The current Senate federal appropriations bill doesn't contain any funding
for Byrne Grants.