Congress Poised to Pass Anti-Meth Law

[NVMojo]

Fri Dec 9,10:23 PM ET

Cold remedies that can be used by drug dealers to make methamphetamine would be forced behind store counters under legislation Congress is poised to pass by year's end.

Lawmakers hope that federal restrictions — included in the agreement reached Thursday to reauthorize the USA Patriot Act — will stem a meth trade that has hit rural America particularly hard.

A number of states have already moved to curb the sale of cold pills containing pseudoephedrine, the ingredient used to cook meth in makeshift labs. The federal law would prevent meth makers from moving to states with weaker laws.

Stores would be required to keep medicines like Sudafed and Nyquil behind the counter and consumers would be limited to 3.6 grams, or about 120 pills, per day and 9 grams, or about 300 pills, a month. Purchasers would also need to show a photo ID and sign a logbook.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051210/ap_on_go_co/meth_congress&printer=1;_ylt=An3tDpgvevxXHblkL1yzk8mMwfIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

[bluestateguy]

1. Republicans: Bringing you big government under new management since 1994

As if it isn't bad enough that my nearest grocery store makes people get razor blades from a restricted area (like buying cigarettes).

[freeplessinseattle]

3. here, too, what is up with the razors?

I thought it was price but the make-up area is around the same price and prone to shoplifting. has anyone ever held up a store with a razor, much less a big store with several employees? and what's stopping customers from bringing in their own razors if so inclined? sheesh, stores are like airplanes now!

[andino]

5. Um, more people steal razor blades.

Those and condoms.

[Chicago Democrat]

2. Meth is bad, but I need cold medicine! Jeez...

like everything is so regulated now, pretty soon you will need a prescription for dinner!

[filthyrichkleptocrat]

4. They take away the old drugs so we have to buy the new expensive ones

I'll bet this bill was sponsored by a congressional corruptonaut drug industry stooge, and it's purpose is to clear the affordable decongestants off the drugstore shelves so people will have no choice but the newly patented and way more expensive new drugs that take their places.

The cheapest, most effective and most popular drugs are the ones they put people in jail for selling. That's what the drug war is really about.

[High Plains]

6. This bill has at least one horrible provision:

a prison sentence of up to 20 years for selling or cooking meth in a home where a child lives...


"This bill was originally full of draconian mandatory minimums and contained no money for drug treatment," said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. "But after an exhausting fight, the mandatory minimums were killed and money for drug treatment was added."

But reformers can only claim a partial victory. Two provisions of the bill are bad news. One provision creates a new penalty of up to 20 years in prison for selling or cooking meth in a home where a child lives -- even if that child is not there at the time. The foreseeable result of this provision is the mass incarceration of meth-addicted parents, said Piper.

"Basically, if you have a kid and commit a meth offense you can get up to 20 years, and that's on top of the underlying offense," said Piper. "Most people who make meth in their homes or who are low-level sellers are meth addicts. Mothers are going to get long prison sentences and have their children put in foster care when treatment would be the appropriate response. At least it's not a mandatory minimum."

DPA also objects to the pseudoephedrine provision. Once the bill passes, law-abiding Americans will need to show identification and have their names entered on government logs in order to buy legal products such as Nyquil, Theraflu, Sudafed, and other cold remedies.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/411/newmethbill.shtml

[Dark]

7. That doesn't actually sound that horrible.

But the DEA has a habit of twisting the rules, so I could see this getting a lot worse.