HOUSE TO CONSIDER METH INGREDIENT BILL

Would Restrict Sale Of Cold, Allergy Pills

FRANKFORT - The state House is scheduled to take up legislation today aimed
at curbing manufacture of illicit meth-amphetamine and regulating shipments
of addictive prescription pills into the state by online pharmacies.

House members planned to vote on the bill yesterday but were asked by the
bill's Senate sponsor to wait a day, said House Majority Leader Rocky
Adkins, D-Sandy Hook.

The senator, Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said in an interview that he
requested the extra time so he could meet with Rep. Frank Rasche, a Paducah
Democrat, who has filed several amendments relating to meth-amphetamine
provisions.

Some of the bill's backers say the changes would "gut" its effectiveness in
controlling production of the dangerous and addictive stimulant.

The current bill would limit the sale of cold and allergy tablets that
contain a key ingredient used by most home-built meth labs. A person could
buy no more than 9 grams per month, or about 300 tablets, of medicine
containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, if the bill is
passed in its present form. The restrictions would not apply to liquids or
gel-caps.

The bill would also allow only pharmacists or pharmacist technicians to
sell the pills, and buyers would have to sign for purchases and show
identification.

But Rasche said he is concerned that limiting sales of the tablets only to
pharmacies would create "a cartel and a monopoly." His amendment would
delete that restriction.

Rasche conceded yesterday that he doubted the amendment would pass. He and
Stivers met yesterday afternoon and both said afterward that they still
disagreed on the issue.

The other major provisions of the bill would require state licensing of
Internet pharmacies and make it a felony for an unlicensed pharmacy to
distribute drugs in Kentucky.