FOLLOW TWIN CITY MODEL FOR METH-FIGHTING SEMINAR

More formal training seminars patterned after two in the Twin Cities are
needed statewide to educate retail clerks about restrictions on sales of
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine-based products.

The restrictions are part of an Illinois law that took effect Jan. 1. The
primary purpose is to restrict access to over-the-counter medicines that
can be used to manufacture the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

The law requires retailers to prove their clerks are trained in the sale of
these products. But it leaves the training up to businesses.

Dozens of people attended the two sessions in the Twin Cities, which were
initiated by state Rep. Dan Brady and conducted by police and a
representative of the attorney general's office. The participants will be
able to share what they learned with others at their businesses.

Brady, R-Bloomington, helped organize this month's seminars after clerks at
14 of 20 Twin City businesses hit in a sting operation in May didn't follow
the law. In comparison, only four of 37 Peoria and Tazewell County
businesses failed in a similar sting.

A lack of understanding about the requirements seemed to be the biggest
problem, not a deliberate disregard for the law. That's why the seminar can
be effective and important. The requirements include limits on the number
of packages of a product that can be purchased and restrictions on where
the products can be displayed.

Other states have similar laws and federal regulations are under
consideration. The intent is to make it more difficult to obtain a key
ingredient for the illegal manufacture of meth.

It is important to get the word out about the requirements -- and not just
to save employees or business owners from fines that could range from $100
to $500 on a first offense.

By ensuring better compliance through training, officials will be more
likely to achieve the law's goal of making it harder for meth manufacturers
to get the ingredients they need.

Cara Smith of the attorney general's office, who participated in the two
seminars as well as many of the stings statewide, said the training is
important.

Once business owners and their employees understand the reason for the law
and why they can make a difference in the fight against meth, they are more
motivated to follow the law, she said.

Smith would like to see similar seminars all over the state, following the
model used in Bloomington-Normal. She thinks her office will be able to
work with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association to make that happen.

In the meantime, IRMA and other trade associations should do their best to
get the word out. We commend Rep. Brady for taking the initiative in having
the seminars here and encourage lawmakers in other areas to do the same.