KEEP LAB RATS OUT OF RURAL GEORGIA

The piney woods of southeast Georgia evoke feelings of peace and
isolation, especially in areas where man's presence is barely noticed.

Unfortunately, that's just how some modern-day drug criminals like it.

According to Asa Hutchinson, director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, the remoteness of rural Georgia is attracting
methamphetamine addicts. Those who make this homemade drug, which is
horribly addictive, need a place where they won't be noticed by nosy
neighbors. That's because the "cooking" process emits an acrid smell
- - the kind of odor that makes people call the cops.

Last year, authorities found 51 meth labs in Georgia. That's small
compared to the number uncovered in Missouri (2,133) or California
(1,847). But both of those states, which have plenty of backwoods
hiding places, have recently passed state laws designed to frustrate
these illegal lab rats. The fear is that they might set up shops
where laws are more lenient. Like Georgia, Mr. Hutchinson, who
stopped in Savannah on Tuesday, encouraged state lawmakers to pass
legislation that would control the amount of certain over-the-counter
cold medicine, which is used to make meth, that a customer can
purchase at one time. Right now, there are no limits.

Such a restriction won't prevent someone who's suffering from the
sniffles from going to the corner drug store and buying some relief.
It will, however, put a crimp in meth addicts who may have Georgia's
backroads and visions of illicit drug sales on their minds.

State lawmakers should listen to Mr. Hutchinson and put a crimp in
this damaging kind of home cooking.