FIGHTING METH: LAWS PUT BURDEN ON LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS

A group representing pharmacists nationwide as backed off its
opposition to national legislation that would make it more difficult
to purchase legal, over-the-counter cold medicines.

The U. S. government and several states are considering laws to
restrict sales of common medications containing pseudoephedrine,
including Sudafed, Nyquil and Sinutab. The ingredients can be
extracted to produce illegal methamphetamine, or "speed".

The National Association of chain Drug Stores, which represent more
than 36,000 pharmacies, has opposed such legislation but now indorses
federal action. The report is motivated by self-interest. The group
prefers a single national law overriding a hodgepodge of state laws.

Several drug store chains already have voluntarily put products beyond
customer convenience behind pharmacy counters, but the pharmacy group
would mandate that for all stores.

Availability would also be limited by a provision that the products be
sold only by a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy personal. Small stores
without designated personal apparently would be forced to remove the
products.

Another record keeping obligation would be imposed on pharmacies, this
one for buyers of legal medications. That raises questions about
police access to records in investigations or even the responsibility
of pharmacist to alert police to "suspicious" purchases.

Illegal meth use and labs are a problem nationwide, including in the
north county. But the proposals unsuitably target law-abiding
consumers who want temporary relief from their cold.