SENATE ADVANCES CURBS ON DRUG SALES

Measure Seeks To Fight Methamphetamine By Restricting Ingredients

RALEIGH - The state Senate tentatively agreed Wednesday to restrict
consumer purchases of certain cold medicines from pharmacists only as
part of an effort to deter the production of methamphetamine.

By a vote of 45-2, senators agreed that cold tablets that contain
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine can't be bought unless a consumer shows a
photo identification at the pharmacy counter, where the medicine would
be kept.

Backed by Attorney General Roy Cooper, the bill largely mirrors an
Oklahoma law its backers say has resulted in a marked drop in busts of
clandestine labs that make meth, a highly addictive drug.

"This will go a long way toward remedying the problem we have with
methamphetamine," said Sen. Walter Dalton, D-Rutherford, one of the
bill's primary sponsors. Without the key ingredient for meth, Dalton
said, people "can't even start this stuff in the first place."

The bill would limit the number of cold tablets consumers could
purchase in a month to roughly 12 packs for medicines such as Sudafed.

The restrictions wouldn't apply to liquid or gel forms of the
medicines that contain the targeted ingredients, as they are too
difficult for most meth-makers to extract in these forms. Those could
still be kept in the aisles of grocery and convenience stores.

The Target and Wal-Mart retail chains, as well as the CVS and Rite Aid
drugstores, recently announced plans to put the cold tablets behind
the pharmacy counter.

Sen. Hugh Webster, R-Alamance, one of the senators who opposed the
bill, questioned Dalton about the bill before attempting
unsuccessfully to adjourn Wednesday's floor session. The measure was a
last-minute addition to the Senate calendar.

A final Senate vote could come today.

Opponents, including the N.C. Retail Merchants Association, argue the
restrictions are inconvenient for sick store patrons, especially in
counties where few if any late-night pharmacies exist.