DANGEROUS HOME COOKING

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.