TOUGHER ON METH

Oklahoma passed a bill last year restricting the sales of popular medicines
such as Sudafed that contain ephedrine -- a key ingredient in making the
highly addictive and dangerous drug methamphetamine.

Already, Kansas has seen a sixfold increase in arrests of people coming from
Oklahoma to buy medicine for meth.

That's why Kansas needs to follow Oklahoma's lead and pass a law making it
more difficult to purchase off-the-shelf cold medicines. A recently proposed
bill -- supported by Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams and Sedgwick
County District Attorney Nola Foulston -- would, among other things, move
these drugs behind the counter, and require customers to sign for them and
show photo identification.

It would be only a slight inconvenience for cold sufferers, but a major new
obstacle for drug pushers.