CITY CONSIDERING ORDINANCE PLACING CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON SOME OVER
COUNTER MEDICINES

Tullahoma may consider adopting an ordinance similar to Cookeville's
where certain restrictions have been placed on over the counter
medicine used to produce methamphetamine. The city's Drug Free Task
Force, chaired by Alderman Troy Bisby, discussed the issue Tuesday.

Police Chief J.C. Ferrell said a copy of Cookeville's ordinance is
being forwarded to Tullahoma.

City Attorney Steve Worsham suggested Bisby bring up the subject at
Monday's Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting.

Bisby replied that he would.

Bisby told the force that the Legislature has considered more
restrictive legislation on over the counter drugs.

Though the Senate supported stronger measures, the House did not
because of concern expressed by the Tennessee Council of Retail
Merchants. He added that the organization's concern was about how
retail sales could be infringed upon.

The Legislature is expected to reconsider the restrictive legislation
this year.

Despite the Legislature's delay, Bisby said Cookeville decided to take
and extra step by enacting its own ordinance.

The Legislature's bill initially considered would have limited sales
of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine, allowing no
more than three packages per single purchase.

Cookeville's ordinance requires that products such as Sudafed and
Sudafedrin, two items containing the medicine, be kept behind or close
to store counters with a transaction limit set at 100 tablets or three
grams. Signatures are also required for purshcases.

Worsham said the city board should consider and approve a similar
ordinance, no matter what the state does. He added that the move would
ensure Tullahoma would have some control over products sold to produce
methamphetamine.

Task Force members agreed methamphetamine abuse is on the rise and
additional efforts are being made to curb the problem.

Bisby said a group of concerned citizens is organizing an effort to
increase public awareness about methamphetamine abuse and has recently
begun meeting to discuss the issue.

He encouraged that Task Force members join in the cause.

"We should work together as a group," Bisby said. "You can get more
people educated abut the issue that way. It's already being discussed
quite a bit anyway."

Bisby said the group, which has not officially declared a name, plans
to meet sometime next week. He added that committee members would be
informed when the meeting is so they may attened.

Task Force member Sharon Johnson said some of the participants are
from the Business and Professional Women organization, which is
spearheading the drive to organize the committee.