COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Debate on a bill that would put
some cold medicines behind the counter and require buyers sign a log
will move to the Senate floor, following approval Wednesday in a Senate
committee.
The measure, similar to one in the U.S. Congress, would put cold
remedies containing pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed, behind store
counters.
Methamphetamine is made with common ingredients, including the cold
medicines, in makeshift labs that are prone to explosions. The labs
leave behind toxic waste, and expose children to hazardous materials.
Attorney General Henry McMaster calls meth the state's No. 1 drug
problem.
The proposal, approved by the South Carolina House last month, would
require that people buying the medication present photo identification
and sign a log that includes their name, address and how much of the
product they purchased. Buyers would be limited to three bottles, or 9
grams, per purchase.
The goal is to deter meth producers from pharmacy-hopping to stock up
on the medicines, and provide law enforcement an investigation tool.
"This is the deterrent we need on the local level," said Rep. Joan
Brady, R-Columbia, the bill's sponsor. "These are small-time meth
producers. They're going to be afraid of showing ID and signing a log."
Some senators wanted to get rid of the log requirement. Sen. Brad
Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said small convenience stores in the rural areas he
represents would simply not sell the products, rather than deal with the
hassle.
"I know our intent is to stop the bad guys, but as a result we stop
people with sinus problems from getting what they need," Hutto said.
"I'm not going to make them drive all the way to Orangeburg to get
Sudafed."
Sen. Jim Ritchie, R-Spartanburg, tried to change the log requirement,
to track sales at the wholesaler and distributor level, "rather than
track every pack of Sudafed."
But efforts to remove the log, the bill's sticking point since its
introduction last year, were dropped after Brady told them legislation
pending in Congress requires it.
"Some of this argument may be beside the point," said Sen. Mike Fair,
R-Greenville.
The reauthorization of the federal Patriot Act, which on Wednesday
was cleared for renewal in Congress, includes an anti-meth provision.
It, too, would put the cold medicines behind the counter, mandate a log
and put even more restrictive limits on purchases.
It would limit consumers to 3.6 grams, or about 120 cold pills, per
day, and 9 grams, or about 300 pills, per month. Some of the log
specifics would be left to the U.S. attorney general.
McMaster spokesman Trey Walker said South Carolina needs to act now,
rather than wait on the federal law, which might not take effect for a
couple of years.
"Every day we delay is a day meth is running rampant in South
Carolina," he said. "Folks in North Carolina are pouring into South
Carolina to make their purchases" because North Carolina already
requires a log.
Jim Bracewell, executive vice president of the state Pharmacy
Association, said most pharmacies across the state already addressed the
issue voluntarily by either assigning employees to watch over the cold
medicines, putting them behind the counter or removing them from the
front counter.
He said the legislation might make the price of the medicines rise
slightly. While requiring pharmacists to keep a log specifically for
cold medicines is an inconvenience, Bracewell said, the association
supports the bill.
"We accept it as part of being a good citizen," he said. "We support
it because we see how terrible this drug is. It's just devastating to
the people who are addicted. We want to see something done about it."
