METH LEGISLATION SPEEDS THROUGH LEGISLATURE

NASHVILLE - The governor's plans to make it more difficult to obtain
ingredients needed to make methamphetamine and to curb the drug's spread
are moving easily through the Legislature.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation Thursday proposed by Gov. Phil
Bredesen to fight methamphetamine abuse in the state. And House leaders
said they're trying to speed their version through the system.

Republicans and Democrats are signing on to sponsor the bill, which came
out of recommendations from a task force set up by Bredesen.

"The governor is pleased that the meth bill passed the state Senate, and it
is gathering a broad amount of support," Bredesen spokeswoman Lydia Lenker
said. The bill requires that some types of cold medicines used to make meth
be moved behind pharmacy counters, limits the amounts people can buy and
requires identification to get the pseudoephedrine-based medicine. It also
increases some criminal penalties.

In all, the governor has recommended about $7 million for a crackdown on
meth, including $2.4 million for increased criminal penalties, $1.7 million
to start a drug court pilot project, $1.5 million for a public awareness
campaign and $600,000 to provide training for law enforcement and other
first responders.

Sen. Charlotte Burks, D-Monterey, said Oklahoma saw a large decrease in the
number of meth labs in the state after putting similar laws in place.

"We hope we'll see that next year," she said.