Legislation Bolsters Stop-Sale System & Reduces Annual Purchase Limits

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- State Reps. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, and Chris Carter, D-St. Louis, today introduced bipartisan legislation designed to significantly strengthen Missouri's anti-meth laws. The STOP METH legislation (HB 1328) enacts tougher penalties for criminals in possession of pseudoephedrine (PSE), significantly reduces the monthly and annual purchase amount of cold medications that contain PSE, requires that anyone convicted of a drug related offense obtain a prescription for pseudoephedrine medicines, and enhances the proven stop-sale system already in effect in Missouri.

"Methamphetamine is a scourge on our communities and real-time, stop-sale technology is the best solution for reducing meth labs," said Cox, chairman of the Missouri House Judiciary Committee.  "Our bipartisan anti-meth legislation creates tougher penalties for criminals and significantly restricts the amount of cold medications with PSE that can be purchased in a month and year.  Our solution will help stop the criminals while ensuring honest, law-abiding citizens can access the cold medications they need without a prescription."

"I'm pleased to join with Representative Cox in introducing this tough anti-meth bill," said Carter.  "Making popular cold medications prescription-only is not the answer.  Our legislation protects legal access for law-abiding Missourians, while cutting off access for the criminals with tougher penalties and restrictions to help law enforcement track them down and keep meth off our streets."

STOP METH BILL:

- Reduces the allowable monthly purchase amount of products containing PSE from 9g to 7.5g, including purchases in other states.

- Reduces the allowable annual purchase limit of products containing PSE from 108g to 75g, including purchases in other states.

- Reduces the amount of products containing PSE in possession from 24g to 15g where there is evidence of intent to violate the law.

- Increases penalties for violations of the controlled substance law on PSE where the violator has a firearm in possession.

- Allows a pharmacist to deny the sale of PSE products at their discretion.

- Creates a prescription-only restriction for PSE products for anyone with a drug related criminal record.

PSE is a key ingredient in popular and every day cold and allergy medicines that is also illegally diverted to manufacture meth.  It is included in medicines that law-abiding Missourians prefer such as Advil Cold &Sinus®, Allegra-D®, Claritin D®, Mucinex-D®, and Sudafed®.

SOURCE Representative Stanley Cox and Representative Chris Carter

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