METH-RELATED ORDINANCE SEES OPPOSITION

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The city council passed an ordinance Monday
restricting the sale of certain products containing ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine in the city limits, but not without some opposition.

The city wants retailers to put products containing ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine behind the counter in an effort to make it more
difficult for people who manufacture methamphetamine to get the key
ingredients. After the discussion in the last council meeting, the
ordinance was tightened somewhat to include only those products
containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as the main ingredient.

Don Kissell, a lobbyist for MetaboLife, a dietary supplement
containing ephedra, asked the council not to approve the ordinance
until it could be brought into line with ordinances in St. Charles and
St. Peters, both of which have revised their ordinances to be more
specific about which products should be put behind the counter and
which could be safely left on the shelves.

MetaboLife, Kissell said, contains ephedra, a herbal product, is often
mistakenly included in the restricted section. He assured the council
that ephedra cannot be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Mike Sargent, from Washington, D.C., representing the Consumer Health
Care Products Commission, told the council he is concerned about the
burden such an ordinance would place on retailers.

"The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and Wal-Mart are
opposed to the ordinance," Sargent said.

Mayor Scott Faughn was adamant in his support of the
ordinance.

"Our law enforcement came to us and asked can we give them one small
tool to fight meth with," Faughn said. "Our law enforcement doesn't
have big-city lobbyists speaking for them. I've talked to the guys who
put their lives on the line and they said it will help them fight meth."

Councilman Tracy Edington, who owns a Money Mizer store in Poplar
Bluff, at first showed some hesitation about passing the ordinance.

"I've talked to other retailers," Edington said. "Most would rather be
asked than be forced to conform to an ordinance."