BUSINESSES TOLD NEW RULES ON 'METH' DRUGS

A recently approved Tullahoma ordinance to regulate the sale of
over-the-counter products used in methamphetamine production is moving
forward with businesses being informed about what they will be
required to do. City Administrator Jody Baltz said that an outline of
the ordinance's requirements and copies of the document were being
mailed to 43 businesses that should receive the information this week.

The establishments potentially sell cold medicine that contains
ephedrine, pseudoephrine and phenylopropanolamine - prime ingredients
used to produce methamphetamine.

A letter signed by Police Chief J.C. Ferrell is included to explain
the process to businesses.

It says:

The Tullahoma Police Department asks for your cooperation as we
implement this new law. You should take the following steps:

* Read and become familiar with the law.

* Determine if your stores sell the products that fall under the
regulations.

* Take measures to comply with the regulations, including the display
and registration of the sale of the products.

* Maintain the register so that it may be inspected by law enforcement
officers.

* Immediately notify the Tullahoma Police Department of any unusual
purchases.

The letter says the Police Department will be checking stores on Oct.
1 to see about compliance with the ordinance.

Sgt. Mike Mann is listed as a contact for further information to deal
with any questions the businesses may have. His phone number is
455-0530, extension 123.

The ordinance will regulate amounts of the cold medicine products sold
and require purchasers to show identification and sign documents when
they buy them.

Quantity restrictions involve sales of no more than 100 tablets per
customer of any products containing any of the three cold medicines.

Purchasers will also be required to register:

* The specific quantity they bought.

* Their names though a proper signature.

* Driver's license numbers or other official identification
information.

* Purchase dates.

Clerks who sell the medicine also will be required to sign or initial
the purchase documents.

Baltz said the approach should serve as a strong way to track sales of
the products.

He said if an individual buys cold medicine up to the limited amount
at five different stores, it gives police investigative leads to follow.

Plus, Baltz said the records can also be used as evidence in
prosecuting meth offenders.

Deputy Jeff Duncan, a member of the Coffee County Sheriff's
Department's Criminal Enforcement Unit, made a presentation Friday to
the Tullahoma Noon Rotary Club about meth history, its impacts and its
continual problems.

Duncan said Tullahoma's move to regulate ephedrine-type products is a
step in the right direction. He told Rotarians that meth cannot be
produced without ephedrine or one of its like products.

He said later that eliminating its availability will probably reduce
meth's production scope.

"It's good Tullahoma passed that," he said, referring to the
ordinance. "It's bound to make a difference."

He added that requiring driver's license numbers will make it more
difficult for individuals to purchase ephedrine products to produce
meth.

Duncan said a possible move to combat meth could theoretically involve
halting production of all ephedrine-type products. He added that
without ephedrine, there would be no meth.

Mayor Steve Cope, who is a member of the Governor's Task Force on
Methamphetamine Abuse, has also drafted a letter included in the
packet drafts being forwarded to businesses. His information further
explains why retail stores are being asked to help in the war against
methamphetamine abuse.

Also included is a copy of Gov. Phil Bredesen's news release that
outlines in detail recommendations from the Task Force about how the
state should deal with meth abuse questions.

"It is my expectation that this will be a guide for the next state
legislative session, and I anticipate that there will be new state
legislation enacted addressing this important issue," Cope says in the
letter. "In the meantime, Tullahoma has passed local legislation,
modeled on that enacted in Cookeville, Tenn.

"I am sure that when the state takes action, we will have to make some
changes to our local ordinance to conform to the requirements of any
new state law. I do call your attention to the recommendation entitled
"Limit the Availability of Pre-Cursor Materials Used to Illegally
Manufacture Methamphetamine" in the governor's news release. This will
give you a sense of direction the state may take.

"I am hopeful that the recommendations of the Task Force will result
in new tools in the fight against this insidious drug."

Highlights from the governor's press release involve:

* Increasing funding for methamphetamine treatment with an eye toward
long-term initiatives.

* Educating communities about the dangers of methamphetamine
abuse.

* Creating new penalties and strengthening existing penalties for
methamphetamine-related crimes.

* Committing resources to help children harmed by methamphetamine
manufacturing and abuse.

* Limiting the availability of pre-cursor materials used to illegally
manufacture methamphetamine.

* Addressing contamination caused by clandestine methamphetamine
laboratories.

* Improving coordination between federal, state and local
stakeholders.

Bredesen said in the press release that the Task Force's
recommendations represent a "sensible approach" that lays out a
meaningful plan for attacking the meth problem. He asked the panel to
continue meeting periodically in order to make additional
recommendations, as needed.

"We're not going to solve Tennessee's methamphetamine problem
overnight," Bredesen said. "But I believe this Task Force has put
together a realistic set of ideas that will put some teeth in the
state's ability to deal with this insidious drug."