BILL A GOOD START TO COMBAT LABS

The West Virginia Legislature finally seems intent on addressing the
explosive problem of methamphetamine manufacturing in the state.

The usage and manufacture of this illegal substance has become one of the
biggest problems facing this and nearly every other state.

Meth users often turn to crime to feed their habit, and the manufacturers
of this substance not only endanger themselves, but their innocent
neighbors as well.

Thanks to a push by Gov. Joe Manchin, lawmakers, it seems, finally got the
message.

Earlier this week the Senate's Judiciary Committee unanimously passed SB
147 after adding some provisions addressing the unlawful use of certain
substances used in the manufacturing process. The major part of the
legislation, which is based on an Oklahoma law, would require businesses to
move all medications with the chemical pseudoephedrine as its main
ingredient behind the counter.

This is the main ingredient in the cold medicine Sudafed and its generic
counterparts. Pseudoephedrine also is the main ingredient in meth. In
addition to moving the product off the shelf, the bill would limit the
amount of pseudoephedrine-based products individuals could purchase during
a 30-day period and require people under the age of 18 to sign a registry
in order to make a purchase. "We are trying to put hurdles in the
production, while allowing honest people to go about their business,"
Judiciary Committee counsel Tom Smith said in published reports.

While the bill would put restrictions on the sale of a popular cold
medicine and somewhat inconvenience the people who use it for relief from
colds, there is no doubt this action is necessary.

The growth of meth labs not only endangers the people using the substance,
but because of its highly volatile nature, neighbors as well.
Methamphetamines is a highly addictive substance.

In all-too many cases, when individuals become addicted, obtaining meth is
their sole means for living.

And unlike other drugs, because of the common ingredients used to make meth
and relative ease of obtaining these ingredients, its use has exploded all
across the country.

Wood County law enforcement officials have long called for tougher measures
in dealing with meth labs. As Parkersburg Police Chief Bob Newell told the
newspaper, "We've been waiting for five years in this area for any kind of
action."

Part of the reason for Newell's concern is Wood County was a hub of meth
activity.

However, our law enforcement agencies aggressively attacked the problem
through the creation of the inter-agency Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force.
While there are still meth labs here, there are not as many. Meth makers
have spread to other parts of the state, especially in Kanawha County,
which may be one reason the problem is finally being recognized by the
Legislature.

This bill, if passed, will be one step in the right direction.

It can't, however, be the only step. It will slow-not stop-the growth of
meth labs. Eventually enterprising people will devise ways of getting the
ingredients they need. Lawmakers need to give law enforcement the tools it
needs to keep up when this happens.