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New Law Combating Meth Goes Into Effect July 1
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1090/a04.htmlNewshawk: Herb
LAW COMBATING METH GOES INTO EFFECT JULY 1
Beginning July 1, it will be more difficult to obtain the ingredients from which
meth is made, and those making the illegal drug also will face stiffer
penalties, according to a new law passed by the 2005 Legislature.
The Combat meth Act is "probably the most comprehensive meth bill passed by
any legislature in the nation and is now being touted as the model for states
across the country," said Rep. Jeff Johnson, R-43A. Johnson, a
Plymouth resident, was chief author of the bill for the House.
"Every piece of the bill is crucial to the meth battle, but one element of
the bill has gained almost all of the attention and controversy: The sale
restrictions placed on Sudafed and similar products in stores throughout the
state," Johnson said.
From now on, pseudo-ephedrine in tablet form ( the only irreplaceable ingredient
in meth ) will be sold from behind a pharmacy counter. No prescription
will be needed, but customers will have to sign a log and provide identification
proving they are 18 years of age or older, a news release from Rep. Jeff
Johnson stated.
Quantities also will be limited. Each customer will be limited to three
boxes or fewer of pseudo-ephedrine tablets during one store visit. A
customer also may not purchase more than 30 grams of tablets in any 30-day
period ( about eight boxes a month ), the news release said.
Pseudo-ephedrine gelcaps, liquid capsules, liquids, powders or children's
products are not restricted, and they still will be sold in grocery stores and
convenience stores, the news release said.
Those products are "almost never" are used to cook meth, Johnson said.
Decongestant products that do not contain pseudo-ephedrine will not be affected
by the new law, he said.
Among provisions in the Combat meth Act are the following:
* Endangering children or vulnerable adults while making meth will be a crime.
* Money will be provided for meth treatment, for education about the dangers of
meth and for state law officers dedicated to meth enforcement.
* A revolving loan fund to help cities and counties with expensive meth lab
clean-up efforts will be established.
The legislation passed both the House and Senate with "overwhelming
bipartisan margins," Johnson said.
"The new Minnesota restrictions are similar to steps taken two years ago in
Oklahoma, which led to a dramatic decrease in meth labs in that state,"
Johnson said. "I feel strongly that very significant action on meth
is necessary immediately in Minnesota.
"We have been talking about this issue for more than two years and meth has
become, I believe, one of the most pressing problems in Minnesota.
"It is literally devastating rural communities in Minnesota, has
infiltrated schools in suburban, urban and rural Minnesota and is costing us
nearly $200 million each year in taxpayer money."
Department of Corrections data shows that nearly 80 percent of all felony
offenders in Minnesota are meth users, Johnson said.
"This drug leads to violent ( and often random ) crime like no drug we've
ever seen before," he said. "Some will argue the bill goes too
far; others not nearly far enough ( as evidenced by the "Sudafed ban"
that was added to my bill on the House floor but later removed ).
"I believe it is a very significant, but reasoned, response to the meth
problem in our state. As a frequent Sudafed user myself, I am willing to
incur some inconvenience and do my very small part in addressing what has become
one of Minnesota's most urgent problems."