Iowa House of

Representatives

For Immediate Release                                                             For More Information:

Wednesday, March 16, 2005                                                   Rep. Nathan Reichert, 515-281-3221

HOUSE APPROVES TOUGH PLAN TO REDUCE METH LABS

Des Moines, Iowa – State Representative Nathan Reichert  of Muscatine supported a tough compromise plan in the Iowa House today to reduce the number of meth labs in Iowa.  The bill would make the key ingredient used to make meth, pseudoephedrine, only available at a pharmacy with  a small exception that will make it nearly impossible to make meth in Iowa.

“I was pleased to support the anti-meth bill today,” said Reichert.  “Since day one, I have insisted on a powerful state wide anti-meth bill that cuts off  meth cooker's unfettered access to meth cooking components. We have produced such a bill.  This bill protects Iowa’s neighborhoods and makes us safer.”

The bill, Senate File 169, was sent to a conference committee this week after the House and Senate were unable to reconcile their differences.  The compromise plan makes pseudoephedrine a schedule V controlled substance, which means that products containing the drug can only be sold by pharmacists behind the counter.  However, Iowans will be able to purchase pseudoephedrine in liquid or gel cap form at retail establishments in amounts under 360 milligrams. The pseudoephedrine must be locked or behind the counter and consumers will have to sign a log and show government issued identification before the purchase.  Under this compromise, meth cookers will have to buy or steal 328 boxes of liquid pseudoephederine to cook an ounce of meth.

“After this bill becomes law, Iowa will have the toughest meth law in the country,” added Reichert.  “I strongly support this legislation, however, should the meth cookers start using gel caps we will be back to further strengthen the law to protect Iowans from this poison.”

Pseudoephedrine is a common nasal decongestant found in cold and sinus medications and, unfortunately, it is also nearly identical to meth in chemical composition. You can’t make meth without it and changing the one molecule that makes them different involves a highly volatile and dangerous chemical process.

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