MICHIGAN TO FIGHT ILLEGAL METH LABS BY LIMITING SALE OF COLD
MEDICINES

LANSING - People who want to buy Sudafed and other cold medicines will
have to prove they are at least 18 years old when a new law intended
to crack down on the production of methamphetamine takes effect in
December.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a law yesterday requiring customers to
show photo identification before buying some cold and flu medicines.
It is aimed at restricting pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, the key
ingredient use to make methamphetamine.

"It's unfortunate the governor had to do that, but I think it's a good
thing," Lenawee County Sheriff Larry Richardson said.

He said law enforcement officials, weary of fighting an escalating
methamphetamine epidemic, began lobbying state officials last year to
enact such legislation.

"[Unfortunately], it's going to take more time for people who need it
to get the drug," Sheriff Richardson said.

Beginning Dec. 15, anyone under 18 will be prohibited from buying
products with pseudoephedrine or ephedrine as the sole active
ingredient under the new law. It also will limit adult customers to
two packages, or a maximum 48 tablets or capsules, in a single
transaction.

Stores that do not keep the restricted drugs behind the counter or in
a locked case will have to keep a log of every buyer's name and date
of birth.

Medicines kept on regular store shelves will need to be equipped with
an anti-theft device and be monitored by video.

The law will not apply to products intended for children under age 12,
some liquid medicines if pseudoephedrine is not the only active
ingredient, and those products that have been prescribed.

John Bicking, owner of Professional Village Pharmacy, which has seven
branches in Monroe County, said he supports the legislation.

"It will make our shelves emptier," he said, noting that the
legislation covers a wide variety of products containing components of
methamphetamine.

Mr. Bicking said he deliberately has been understocking his shelves
with medications containing the controversial ingredients to keep
customers from buying large quantities or tempt shoplifters.

Last year, Mr. Bicking said there were a number of thefts of Coricidin
from his pharmacies, so he pulled the drug from his shelves. "Now we
keep it behind the counter," he said.

In a statement after signing the bill, Governor Granholm said, "These
bills place common sense limits on the ingredients needed to produce
this highly addictive illegal drug."

The legislation - sponsored by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R., Saugatuck)
and Rep. Rick Jones (R., Grand Ledge) - received overwhelming support
in the legislature.

Several other states have restricted access to cold medicines, either
by allowing only pharmacies to sell drugs with pseudoephedrine or
making retailers lock up the products or sell them from staffed counters.

The number of illegal meth labs has jumped significantly in recent
years. The Michigan State Police reported that 18 meth labs were
seized in 1999. That number grew to 209 in 2004. This year, 120 labs
have been identified and busted.

Sheriff Richardson said his deputies busted two methamphetamine labs
last week, one in a vehicle in Hudson, Mich., the other in a home on
U.S. 223. "We're making headway, but it's a big problem. This will
help us," he said.

Information from the Associate Press was used in this
report.