IN OUR VIEW: TOUGHER ON METH

It is no secret that methamphetatime production in this state appears to be
approaching epidemic proportions. Thousands of labs are seized each year in
Missouri. But for every clandestine meth operation discovered and closed, a
new lab seems to spring up. And for every meth maker and dealer put out of
business, someone else opens up shop.

In an effort to turn back the tide of meth production, Missouri has added
two new weapons to its arsenal. The first restricts the display and sale of
products containing pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in popular cold
medicines. The second imposes tougher penalties for manufacturing drugs in
a home with children, or within 2,000 feet of a school, college or school bus.

These new laws are merely the latest in a string of legislation intended to
slow down meth production. The sorry truth is that the manufacture of meth
is profitable and relatively easy. The drug is highly addictive, the
ingredients are inexpensive, and it doesn't take a chemistry degree to cook
the concoction for street sale. And it can be done almost anywhere there is
a degree of privacy, especially to cover the noxious smell. Labs have been
found in garages, basements, motel rooms and even in mobile vans.

Under the state's rules for stores, cold medicines containing
pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient must be kept either behind
the counter or within 10 feet of a cashier. Single transactions for the
medicines will be limited to six grams or two packages. For cold medicines
in which pseudoephedrine is only one of several active ingredients, the
limit is set at three packages or 9 grams.

The law also will criminalize the release of anhydrous ammonia, a
fertilizer also used in making meth, into the atmosphere. If a serious
injury or death is caused by such a release, penalties will kick in that
are more severe than for manufacturing meth.

Under the second bill, making drugs near a school, college or school bus,
or in a home where a child lives will be a Class A felony. The only
exception is production of less than five grams of marijuana, which would
remain a Class C felony and punishable by no more than seven years in prison.

Missouri has become progressively tougher on meth in recent years. But the
proliferation of labs continues. We can only hope that these two new laws
will help slow down production of this scourge.