http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/senategive_882.mp3
The Senate today gave first round approval to legislation limiting access to cold medicine that can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine. Missy Shelton reports.
Under the proposal, cold medicines that contain psuedoephedrine, medicines like Sudafed would no longer be available in convenience stores or any other store that doesn't have a pharmacist.
Supporters of the bill say by limiting access to this ingredient of methamphetamine, production of the illegal drug will go down in Missouri.
Republican Senator John Cauthorn says similar measures have worked in other states.
But some senators say they're concerned about how much this bill will inconvenience law-abiding consumers.
Kansas City area Democrat Victor Callahan says this would limit the options for consumers in rural areas who need cold medicine.
Right now, Missouri limits the amount of psuedoephedrine consumers can buy at a time.
But Cauthorn says meth manufacturers have ways of getting around that limit.
Cauthorn says that's why lawmakers should make it even more difficult to purchase certain cold medicine.
During debate on the proposal, Columbia Democrat Chuck Graham said lawmakers are attacking the problem at the wrong end.
He says the state needs to decrease the demand for meth by reducing the number of people who are addicted to it.
The proposal must gain final approval from the senate before it moves to the House.