Legislation to pull over-the-counter Sudafed may soon be on hold.
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Legislation to pull over-the-counter Sudafed may soon be on hold.

Date: May 12, 2010
By: Allie Spillyards
State Capitol Bureau
Links:

HB1210

 

 
Intro:  Pseudoepherine regulation legislation is expected to die before the end of the 2010 legislative session.
RunTime:  2:07
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Missouri Representative Scott Lipke said he believes a bill that would require a prescription for some cold medicines will now be delayed after Missouri established a new electronic database to monitor the amount an individual buys.

Missouri has required an electronic database since 2008, but the new real time tracking system will link Missouri's database to other states and limit the amount purchased by day and month.

Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient in cold medicines like Sudafed currently sold over the counter and used to make D-Methamphetamine.

Franklin County Sergeant Jason Grellner said a prescription law is needed to protect Missouri's citizens.

Actuality:  GRELLNE3.WAV
Run Time:  00:16
Description: "A child living in a Meth lab is breathing in chemicals as if they were living in a hazardous waste site. Meth labs that explode and twist houses off of foundations and burn down apartment buildings kill people who may never have been involved in illegal narcotics."

Grellner said the number of Meth labs in the state has not significantly decreased under current policy.

Opponents of the bill argue that dealers will cross the state border to get cold medicine.

Washington pharmacy manager Mark Weydle said customers are willing to travel for medications because a prescription is required.

Actuality:  WEYDLE1.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "They'll come in here. They'll find out it's prescription only. They'll find out it's not prescription only in a couple of nearby communities and they'll say they'll drive to New Haven or some other place to get it."

Lipke said this has delayed the bill and caused confusion in the interpretation of its language.

Actuality:  LIPKE6.WAV
Run Time:  00:16
Description: "What if someone who lives on the Missouri-Illinois border and goes across to Illinois and buys pseudoephedrine, which is legal and then brings it back into the state of Missouri. Would we be making it illegal then to possess that here in Missouri without a prescription?"

According to the State Highway Patrol, Missouri leads the country in the number of Meth lab seizures.

Lipke said he hopes Missouri will establish a prescription requirement similar to Oregon's within the next couple of years but it could take as many as four or five.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Allie Spillyards.