Senate Bill Would Restrict Sales of Cold Medications With Methamphetamine Ingredient
A Senate committee this month will hold hearings on a bill that would restrict the sale of cold and allergy medicines containing pseudoephedrine, which is used to make methamphetamine, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports.
The bill, sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.), would require customers to show a photo ID and sign a log to buy medications such as Sudafed and Nyquil. Only pharmacists or pharmacy personnel would be allowed to sell the products, and sales would be limited to nine grams, or about 300 30-milligram pills, every 30 days.
The bill is modeled on an Oklahoma law that took effect in April. More than a dozen states have enacted similar laws.
Kmart, Target, Walgreen, Wal-Mart and other retailers have introduced policies to restrict sales of drugs containing pseudoephedrine. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores in May endorsed a "set of principles" that includes restricting access to the drugs, the Sun reports.
Jay Kosminsky -- a spokesperson for Pfizer, which makes Sudafed -- said, "I do think there really is an opportunity for a national consensus on this issue, and I don't think there was a year ago."
Mary Ann Wagner, vice president of pharmacy regulatory affairs for NACDS, said, "We do think it's time for a federal solution. It's just becoming so complicated when you look at a map across the country and no two laws are anything alike" (AP/Baltimore Sun, 6/5).