NOT EVERY SOCIETAL PROBLEM REQUIRES NEW LEGISLATION

State lawmakers did the right thing by imposing restrictions on the sale of
cold medications that can be used as ingredients in the making of
methamphetamine. Meth is the scourge of rural America.

But retailers can do this on their own. Target announced that nationwide,
its 1,000 in-store pharmacies will voluntarily place some over-the-counter
medications behind the counter.

The move is reminiscent of Southland Corp.'s

decision two decades ago to stop selling adult magazines at its 7-Eleven
convenience stores. Feminist and religious groups alike had complained.

In that case, the government could not act because of First Amendment
considerations. But a retail chain could and did. Others quickly followed
the lead.

Stores are under no legal or moral obligation to restrict these sales, which
is why it is praiseworthy of Target not to wait for the law in other states
to catch up to the realities of methamphetamine production.