News & Politics - Iowa gov. signs law limiting medicine access

mh67511 · 03-25-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Iowa gov. signs law limiting drug access

By AMY LORENTZEN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Gov. Tom Vilsack on Tuesday signed a bill restricting access to pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in common cold medicine that's also used to produce the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

The law prohibits one-time sales of more than a single package of liquid and liquid gel capsules containing less than 360 milligrams of pseudoephedrine - about the amount found in children's cold medicines. Retailers must to keep the products locked up.

Packages containing more than 360 milligrams, and any non-liquid pseudoephedrine medications, have to be bought from a pharmacist.

Law enforcement officials say the liquid medications are more difficult to use in the production of meth than tablets or capsules.

Buyers of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine must show identification and sign a log sheet that tracks purchases. Consumers cannot buy more than 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine in a 30-day period without a prescription.

The governor called the bill "the toughest and smartest" of its kind in the country.

Other states - including Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky - also require products containing pseudoephedrine to be sold through a pharmacy, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Iowa's 30-day limit on the amount that can be bought is lower.

In Washington, D.C., Republican and Democrat senators proposed similar legislation earlier this year.

Great move! I hope they do the same in Nebraska. It's a growing problem and they really need to try and curb meth production.

Milt Palacio · 03-25-2005, 12:54 PM

I don't know anything about meth production but that's a pretty interesting law.

By the way, Vilsack will be running as a presidential hopeful for the Democrats in 2008.

mh67511 · 03-25-2005, 01:22 PM

Very dangerous stuff:

Quote:

Methamphetamine can be easily manufactured in clandestine laboratories (meth labs) using ingredients purchased in local stores. Over-the-counter cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine and other materials are "cooked" in meth labs to make methamphetamine.

The manufacture of methamphetamine has a severe impact on the environment. The production of one pound of methamphetamine releases poisonous gas into the atmosphere and creates 5 to 7 pounds of toxic waste. Many laboratory operators dump the toxic waste down household drains, in fields and yards, or on rural roads.

Due to the creation of toxic waste at methamphetamine production sites, many first response personnel incur injury when dealing with the hazardous substances. The most common symptoms suffered by first responders when they raid meth labs are respiratory and eye irritations, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath.

Meth labs can be portable and so are easily dismantled, stored, or moved. This portability helps methamphetamine manufacturers avoid law enforcement authorities. Meth labs have been found in many different types of locations, including apartments, hotel rooms, rented storage spaces, and trucks. Methamphetamine labs have been known to be boobytrapped and lab operators are often well armed.

The Happy Psycho · 03-25-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Buyers of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine must show identification and sign a log sheet that tracks purchases. Consumers cannot buy more than 7.5 grams of pseudoephedrine in a 30-day period without a prescription.

I have a problem with that. I don't run a meth lab, I suffer from allergies. I'd like to be able to deal with it without feeling like the goverment is stalking me.

mh67511 · 03-25-2005, 10:06 PM

While it would be wonderful if we could buy these drugs without these restrictions, if it means that people have less of an ability to make meth, which threatens
their families, community, and the environment, then I am all for it.

It's not really that different than getting a prescription either. Every time I've gotten one, they've entered all my information into a computer, so it's really no different.

JW77 · 03-26-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Happy Psycho

I have a problem with that. I don't run a meth lab, I suffer from allergies. I'd like to be able to deal with it without feeling like the goverment is stalking me.

Seems like the law might have some benefits, but I agree with you. I just don't like the idea of more restrictions or more government control. I'm guessing more than a few "big" meth dealers are happy with it though. It means their prices will probably go back up to previous levels...which could mean anywhere from 3 to 10 thousand more per pound.

Anyway, I was watching a news story about this issue (not positive about which state, but I'm pretty sure it was Iowa) and part of the story showed police watching drug stores to see if anyone was buying a high number of products containing pseudoephedrine. Now, they did arrest one person who was buying from one store and then going to another and buying from there as well, but they were there for at least a few days...just watching to see what people were buying.

sick little jag · 03-26-2005, 11:33 PM

Oregon has a HUGE meth problem and we've had a law similar to this for quite some time. Medicines with ephedrine and spuedoephedrine are kept behind counters and you have to show ID to buy them, and you can only buy a couple at a time. I am fine with this, and it's, or so I've heard, help reduce the problem a little bit. But then the meth cooks started going across the river to Vancouver and they are doing a law that is more like this, where you have to sign a log.

I don't agree with having a log...it's a little too big brotherish. But keeping medicines behind counter, requiring ID, and limiting the amount you can purchase all seem like reasonable restrictions.

mh67511 · 03-27-2005, 05:59 PM

And you know, unless the logs computerized it seems pointless. If they were computerized they would at least be able to see if people were buying multiple packages, but signing a log doesn't seem like it would do anything.

Enigma, I.C. · 03-27-2005, 07:40 PM

I know back home in Illinois there's medicine that you have to specifically ask for at the pharmacy counter and they can only sell you one pack of it. I guess Illinois already has a similar law.


Fan Forum > General Discussion > News & Politics > Iowa gov. signs law limiting medicine access