METH LAW ALREADY IN EFFECT

People who sell pseudoephedrine tablets who are not pharmacists or
pharmacist technicians are breaking the law, officials say.

New legislation that bans store sales of pseudoephedrine tablets went
into effect at 2 p.m. Wednesday, immediately after Gov. Brad Henry's
signature.

The law is aimed at making pseudoephedrine, a key component of
methamphetamine, less accessible for meth manufacturers.

Pseudoephedrine tablets still can be bought without a prescription,
but are to be sold only at licensed pharmacies. Buyers must show
identification, and the pharmacist must keep a log of who buys it. The
law does not affect the sale of pseudoephedrine in capsule and liquid
forms.

Tom Cunningham, the Oklahoma District Attorney Council's coordinator
for drug task force agents, said agents statewide are making
unannounced visits to truck stops, convenience stores and discount
stores in their counties to see that shelves are cleared of the tablets.

He said agents for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous
Drugs and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are doing the same.

"They're going to make sure the tablets are removed, if they already
haven't been," he said. "For the first 30 days, blatant offenders
would be the only ones that are likely to be arrested. After that, no
one should be able to say they were ignorant of the law."

Only one of a half-dozen truck stops contacted by The Oklahoman had
removed the tablets from their shelves.

"We've been gearing up for this for six weeks," said Brett Green, a
manager at Pilot Travel Center near Morgan Road and Interstate 40.
"The shelves will be empty until we get something to fill them."

The other metro-area truck stops either would not comment or referred
questions to corporate offices.

Representatives at four randomly called convenience stores said they
already have removed the tablets from their shelves.

"We're empty because I'd already heard that was coming," said Thuy
Nguyen, manager of the Neighbor Food Mart on S Pennsylvania Avenue.
"We sold it all already, a couple of weeks ago. I don't stock it any
more."

Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman Mark Woodward said retailers
have until May 7 to return pseudoephedrine tablets to their
wholesalers or have them destroyed by law enforcement officials.

He said that along with random spot checks of businesses, the bureau
is sending written reminders to retailers about removing the tablets.

Woodward said law enforcement officials are watching for "back-door
sales" of the tablets taken off the shelves.

He said they also are aware that some people may be stockpiling
tablets, thinking their scarcity will increase their value.

Pottawatomie County District Attorney Richard Smothermon said he and
his task force agents visited stores in Pottawatomie and Lincoln
counties Friday to make sure blacklisted pseudoephedrine products were
off the shelves. Several had not removed them, he said.

"The law says whoever sells it goes to jail," Smothermon said. "I
can't be more clear than that about what's going to happen to people
who don't want to remove it."

Those found guilty of selling pseudoephedrine tablets can be sentenced
to as many as five years in prison and fined up to $1,000.

Logan and Payne county officers will be contacting any nonpharmacies
that sell pseudoephedrine, reminding them of the law and making sure
they receive the agency's release.

Retailers who don't know or keep selling the tablets run the risk of
being charged, but prosecutors there will take into account the
sellers' intent.

"We hope they'll stop selling it immediately," Payne County District
Attorney Rob Husdon said.

"It's also important for people to understand that it's just the
tablets that can't be sold. Liquid or gel caps are still legal."

[sidebar]

Pseudoephedrine law

Any nonpharmacies that sell pseudoephedrine tablets must remove them from
the shelves immediately. Gel caps and liquid decongestants are exempt.
Stores have 30 days to remove pseudoephedrine tablets from store rooms. If
wholesalers refuse to take back the drugs, retailers may call the Oklahoma
Bureau of Narcotics at (800) 522-8031 to dispose of the drugs.

Source - Tom Cunningham, Oklahoma District Attorneys Council