TOO FAR

Federal Steps To Crack Down On Methamphetamines Will Hurt Consumers Most

No right-minded person would oppose sensible efforts to control the
scourge of methamphetamine, but a bill before Congress intended to
crack down on illegal labs that produce the drug goes too far.

Under the proposal, anyone buying certain cold remedies would have to
show identification and record his or her transaction. This would
affect remedies that use pseudoephedrine as the active ingredient,
such as Sudafed in tablet form.

Certainly making it more difficult for criminals to acquire
pseudoephedrine that's needed to make meth is an important goal. Meth
is a highly addictive illegal drug that's sweeping the nation. The
manufacturing process is very dangerous, often releasing toxic fumes
and even causing explosions.

But what federal lawmakers have come up with is a plan that will be a
bigger hassle to the average consumer with a runny nose than hardened
drug traffickers.

Lawmakers in Florida, and several other states, have already
addressed this issue. Florida's law requires over-the-counter
remedies that can be refined into meth to be kept behind the counter.
Florida consumers can only buy a limited number of pills at one time.

Florida's law should have formed the baseline for any federal
legislation. Then states could have made their own decision to impose
tougher rules if warranted by local conditions.

It's not too late for Congress to bring the proposal in line with the
common-sense provisions of Florida's law.