Henry asks other governors to adopt Oklahoma meth law

Gov. Brad Henry, citing the success of Oklahoma's new anti-meth law,
sent a letter to 49 other chief executives Wednesday asking them to
adopt similar laws. Henry released figures showing that Oklahoma has
reduced the number of illegal meth lab seizures by almost 50 percent
since the law was enacted in April.

"Nationwide success in stopping the methamphetamine epidemic will come
from a combined effort of states limiting access to key ingredients,"
the Oklahoma governor said. "That is why laws similar to Oklahoma's
hold such tremendous potential in stamping out this scourge."

Lonnie Wright, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and
Dangerous Drugs, said clandestine meth lab seizures in Oklahoma
between April and July totaled 263, down from 423 seizures recorded
during that period a year ago.

The new law requires that the tablet form of pseudoephedrine be sold
from behind the counter in pharmacies. Customers are limited to buying
nine grams of the drug each month. Pseudoephedrine is used in many
popular cold medicines. In recent years, it has become the main
ingredient in making meth in Oklahoma and other states.

Under the Oklahoma law, those buying the drug must present photo
identification and provide their signature. The law does not restrict
sales of gel and liquid forms of pseudoephedrine, which are not used
to make illegal meth.

"This is a textbook example of what can be done when we, as a state
from the governor on down, focus our attention and efforts on a
particular threat," Wright said.

He said if other states passed similar laws, he would expect to see an
even greater decline in illegal meth in Oklahoma.

The law includes a provision allowing judges to deny bail to chronic
methamphetamine offenders. That provision is an effort to protect the
public and law enforcement from potentially violent meth users.

Kevin Ward, Oklahoma public safety commissioner, said meth has been
the center of incidents that caused the killing of three Oklahoma
Highway Patrol troopers.

Trooper Nik Green was the last Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer to die
at the hands of a meth addict. He was killed on Dec. 26, 2003.

"Many addicts are posting bond to then immediately consume more of the
drug," Ward said. "The defendant accused of murdering Trooper Nik
Green was arrested twice in the 30 days prior to the slaying for
possessing methamphetamine.

"When Trooper Green encountered him on that rural county road, the
defendant is believed to have been manufacturing meth and, when he was
arrested two days after the murder, he had meth in his possession. The
addiction, loss of self control and subsequent paranoia is too much
for meth users to overcome."