Originally published August 30 2005
Oregon legislation will require prescriptions for medicines with meth potential
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed legislation last week that will require consumers to have a prescription for any medicine (even those considered over-the-counter) that could be used in the production of methamphetamines, The Boston Globe reports.
The requirement applies to any medication containing pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in making meth.
Oregon and several other states already require consumers to show identification and sign a log when obtaining over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines such as Sudafed and Claritin D from pharmacies, and Congress is moving toward similar restrictions.
John Baldacci in June signed legislation placing several restrictions on over-the-counter decongestant cold medicines that can be used to make methamphetamine.
Maine's law does not require prescriptions for the sale of the cold remedies.
It authorizes but does not require pharmacies to request identification and log sales of those products.
Oregon's governor said he was aware that the law might cause inconvenience for allergy and cold sufferers but said pharmaceutical companies already are producing replacement medications that don't contain pseudoephedrine and can't be converted to meth.
The bill sailed though both houses of the Legislature, opposed by only a handful of lawmakers who cited the inconvenience for their constituents.
The state Board of Pharmacy has until next July to implement the prescription requirement, but board executive director Gary Schnabel said it could be in place within three months.
While increasing amounts of methamphetamine come from Mexico, bill supporters say the law could sharply reduce the number of home meth labs, where the chemicals used in the process can pose severe health problems.
Maine's law, which was cosponsored by more than half of the legislators, restricts the sale of multiple-dose packages of targeted methamphetamine precursors to blister packs containing no more than 3 grams and allows no more than three packages to be sold in a single transaction.
Medicines containing the meth ingredients must be sold by a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or someone under their supervision.
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