Smith meets with Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith met with board members of Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force on Monday afternoon in an effort to establish a stronger working connection between the two parties.

In his nine months in office, Smith said he's made an effort to sit down face to face with businesses, agencies and public safety groups all across the 8th Congressional District to see what issues they face and how his office can help.

"It's been very helpful because you've got to know all of the pieces of the puzzle and how they go together to really understand the district," he said.

The meeting began by sharing some of the successes of the task force. Director Mark McClendon said city governments worked with the agency to make it more difficult to obtain medications containing pseudoephedrine. He said every city in Southeast Missouri has adopted an ordinance that requires a prescription for medications containing the key ingredient used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

"That's not to say there is no meth problem ­-- there is -- but this ordinance is an important step," McClendon said.

He told the congressman the task force still has a problem with medicines containing pseudoephedrine being purchased in areas such as St. Louis, where they still can be purchased over the counter, and being brought back to the area.

Smith said he was unaware that every city in Southeast Missouri had adopted the ordinance and said he would be interested to see how the area compared to those without such a measure. Board members volunteered to reach out to law enforcement agencies in other areas of the district that might be interested in encouraging their city government to adopt similar ordinances.

Before the meeting came to an end, the board also shared some of their concerns with Smith. Chief among them was the enforcement of federal laws pertaining to marijuana.

The use of marijuana is a federal offense, but 20 states and Washington, D.C., allow limited use for medicinal purposes and the state of Washington and Colorado allow use for those 21 and older.

McClendon said they are concerned because the federal law is "not doing what it was set up to do," which leaves many questions for law enforcement agencies including the task force. The push to legalize marijuana in Missouri has gained more attention recently and McClendon said the board knows "it's something on the horizon for the force and for Missouri."

Smith said he shared the board's concern and believes there is a "blatant violation of federal law" in Colorado. He also said it's been a recent topic of discussion among the House Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member.

McClendon said he was pleased to hear the congressman already was aware of the concern and said the meeting helped open doors between the task force and Smith's office.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.