Blunt proposes tougher anti-meth laws

Cold sufferers could face new obstacles to buying medicine such as Sudafed under a plan outlined Friday by Gov. Matt Blunt to crack down on the manufacture of the illegal drug methamphetamine.

The plan is one that law enforcement officials and legislators discussed before Blunt was sworn in as governor. State Rep. Scott Lipke, R-Jackson, had said earlier that he would prefile a bill making starch-based products containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine controlled substances.

"I held off and waited to see what direction the governor wants to go," Lipke said.

Now that Blunt has announced his intention to make this plan a priority, Lipke said he plans to do everything he can to help get it through. Blunt's approval of the proposal will help get it passed in the legislature, Lipke said.

"It will really add a boost to getting it across," agreed Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf.

The proposal would require medicines containing pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient in the illegal stimulant methamphetamine -- to be kept behind a pharmacy counter and sold only by a pharmacist or pharmaceutical technician.

That means convenience stores and grocery stores without pharmacies could no longer sell the medicine.

The proposal would not apply to cold medicines in gel cap or liquid form.

Blunt's proposal also would require buyers to show photo identification and sign a log, which could be inspected by law enforcement officers.

The proposal is modeled after a successful Oklahoma law that is the toughest in the nation. In the law's first 10 months, meth lab seizures dropped more than 80 percent. Other states, including Kansas, also are considering proposals modeled after Oklahoma's.

Two years ago, Missouri was at the national forefront in anti-meth laws when it required medicines with pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient to be kept behind a store counter, within 10 feet of a cashier or to be tagged with electronic anti-theft devices.

But Missouri has continued to be a hot spot for methamphetamine makers. Since 2001, Missouri has led the nation in meth lab seizures. In 2003, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2,860 meth lab seizures. Final figures aren't available yet for 2004, but halfway through the year, the state was on a similar pace.

"It's not a good thing when Missouri is No. 1 in meth labs seized," Lipke said. "This will go a long way and free up law enforcement to help them focus on other drugs out there."

Blunt, who outlined his proposal in Springfield, said he has bipartisan legislative support for the bill being drafted at his request.

Staff writer Linda Redeffer contributed to this report.