COLD MEDICINE SALES RESTRICTED TO FIGHT METH

Buying cold and allergy medicines in Missouri just got a bit more complicated.

To curb production of methamphetamine, a set of bills signed into law
Tuesday will restrict the sales of over-the-counter medicines containing
pseudoephedrine. The decongestant, found in many cold and allergy
medicines, is used in making the illegal stimulant.

The legislation mandates that only a maximum of two packages or 6 grams of
medicine with pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient can be bought
at one time. For medicines containing pseudoephedrine plus other active
ingredients, the single-purchase maximum will be three packages or 9 grams.

To help deter thefts, medicines with pseudoephedrine as the sole active
ingredient now must be kept behind a counter or within 10 feet of a
cashier, or be tagged with electronic anti-theft devices. One example is
the brand-name decongestant Sudafed.

State and local authorities welcomed the new restrictions, saying that the
laws give them another tool to fight meth, which is a particular problem in
Missouri. Authorities seized 2,725 meth labs statewide last year -- the
highest number in the nation.

Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell signed the legislation for Gov. Bob Holden, who was
out of the state.

"Missouri has emerged as a national leader in the use of deadly
methamphetamine drugs," Maxwell said. "I'm hopeful that we can decrease
Missouri's status by implementing these much-needed laws."

No such restrictions exist in Kansas, where 728 meth labs were seized last
year.

Prosecutors in Wyandotte and Johnson counties say their cases rely heavily
on retailers who report suspicious purchases to police. Retailers typically
flag purchases of three or more boxes, prosecutors said.

Authorities in Missouri rely on a similar system with merchants, but they
said the new laws will add that much more power to their efforts.

In eastern Jackson County, an area once called the Meth Capital of the
World, the law is seen as an encouraging nod from the General Assembly.

"As the meth labs go up, we need help from lawmakers to support us in our
endeavors to crack down on this," said Terri Klote, spokeswoman for the
Jackson County Drug Task Force. "We can't do it alone."

Klote noted that the task force busted 55 meth labs in 2002, up from 29 in
2001.

The laws also will help prosecute store owners who sell large amounts of
cold pills knowing that the drugs will be used to make methamphetamine,
said Julie Hamilton, a Jackson County assistant prosecuting attorney.

"It certainly helps to have all the tools we can in our war with meth,"
Hamilton said. "This will allow us to be more proactive in going after
retailers that are turning a blind eye and selling large amounts of
pseudoephedrine."

Ron Leone, executive director of the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and
Convenience Store Association, said Tuesday his group was pleased with the
legislation.

"I think we struck a good balance between protecting the consumer and
providing flexibility to the retailer," Leone said.

The federal government also has been going after retailers and has
prosecuted several cases in Missouri, California and Washington state.

Missouri is the only state so far to restrict on the display of allergy and
cold medicines, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association,
which represents companies that make or distribute over-the-counter
medications.

The Missouri laws also make it a felony to release into the atmosphere
anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer used in meth production. Under the law, a
release that caused death or serious physical injury will result in even
tougher criminal penalties.

Also signed into law was legislation making it a Class A felony --
punishable by up to life in prison -- to manufacture drugs in a home with
children or within 2,000 feet of a public or private school, college,
university or school bus. It currently is a felony to sell drugs near
schools or when children are present.

The only exception would be for production of less than 5 grams of
marijuana, which would remain a Class C felony punishable by up to seven
years in prison.

THE NEW LAWS

New Missouri laws restricting the sale and display of certain cold and
allergy medicines:

* Limit the purchase of medicine with pseudoephedrine as the sole active
ingredient to two packages at one time. For medicines with pseudoephedrine
and other active ingredients, the single-purchase maximum is three packages.

* Require that medicines with pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient
be kept behind a counter or within 10 feet of a cashier, or be tagged with
electronic anti-theft devices.

* Prohibit the release of anhydrous ammonia -- a fertilizer also used in
meth production -- into the atmosphere. A release leading to a death or
serious physical injury will result in even tougher penalties.

* Make it a Class A felony to manufacture drugs in a home with children or
within one-half mile of a school.