Bush Signs "Combat Meth Act"
After many states, especially in the Midwest, have passed legislature to restrict the meth ingredient pseudoephedrine, President Bush signs a similar bill for the nation. The new bill requires any medication containing the chemical to be sold behind the counter, puts a limit on the amount any one person can get, keeps track of who is getting how much, and gives $99 million per year for five years to local and state governments, as well as law enforcement agencies. Though this will help slow production of meth in the US, some fear increased importation to keep up with the demand. Officials have said that improvements in tracking and border enforcement should help control importation.
Comments
From the referenced news article:
"Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill said that after Missouri passed its meth law, he saw a decrease in meth labs. But the inaccessibility in Missouri created an influx of imported meth from Mexico, he said. Officials said the federal law will address the problem because there will be changes in reporting and certification procedures for countries exporting and importing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and other drugs."
Sure, US federal law will really slow down those Mexican meth producers.
And as a side benefit we'll have a central registry of everybody who has ever had a sniffle. Then we can make catching a viral upper respiratory infection illegal and round 'em up. The prison industry needs the patronage, and it would save the children too.
Posted by: Anon | March 16, 2006 02:05 PM