HOUSE OKS CURB ON METH PRODUCTION

Restricts Sale Of Allergy Pills

FRANKFORT - The state House yesterday unanimously passed legislation meant
to combat illegal methamphetamine production by restricting the sale of
cold and allergy pills that are a common ingredient.

The bill also would limit the ability of out-of-state Internet pharmacies
to sell addictive prescription drugs in the state.

The 97-0 vote came after one House member withdrew last-minute amendments
that backers of the bill said would have substantially weakened its
anti-meth portions.

The vote means the legislation, which started in the Senate, now goes back
to that chamber for reapproval. It would then go to Gov. Ernie Fletcher to
be signed into law.

Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, who was leading the push for the anti-meth
provisions, called the bill "a great first step" against the drug, which is
highly addictive and poses a high risk of explosions and contamination
while being manufactured in home-made "labs."

"This is not the end solution to the methamphetamine problem," Pence told
reporters after the vote. "It is the beginning, hopefully, to a reduction
in the methamphetamine problem."

The bill would restrict purchases of tablets containing ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine to no more than 9 grams a month. Liquid and gel forms
wouldn't be limited.

People buying the tablets would have to show identification and sign a log.
Only pharmacists or pharmacy technicians could sell them, and retailers
would have to keep them behind a counter or in a case.

Pseudoephedrine is found in over-the-counter decongestants and some allergy
medicines. The drug is the essential ingredient for most home-brewed meth.
Other household products and chemicals are used, too, but they can be varied.

Rep. Frank Rasche, D-Paducah, in recent days introduced amendments that
would have changed the limits and allowed any retailer to sell the pills.

He said the bill as written was "anti-consumer" and could turn ordinary
Kentuckians into violators because, if they have families, they could end
up buying more tablets than allowed.

He also said that allowing only pharmacists or their assistants to sell the
tablets would "create a cartel for decongestants," and produce price increases.

But Rasche dropped his amendments, calling meth "an atrocious scourge." He
also conceded that the bill wasn't aimed at people who use such medicine to
fight colds.

Pence said afterward that any infringement on shoppers would be "very
minimal compared to the substantial impact" in curbing meth production. He
said that allowing any retail store to sell the tablets would have made the
law unenforceable.

Also under the bill, making meth in the presence of a child would become a
separate felony, and someone caught with at least two ingredients or pieces
of meth-making equipment could be charged with manufacturing.

The bill's other provisions seek to stem the flow of addictive painkillers
by requiring Internet pharmacies to be licensed. An unlicensed one doing
business in Kentucky could be charged with a felony and the drugs it ships
could be seized.