Talent promotes bill limiting meth ingredients

A federal bill aims to take all over-the-counter cold and sinus medicines containing pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient for methamphetamines, off the shelves. This bill would broaden the scope of a state bill prohibiting sales of cold and sinus tablets containing the drug.

Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., sponsor of the bill, discussed the federal Combat Meth Act at a press conference Saturday at D&H Drugstore. If passed, the bill would require drugs containing pseudoephedrine to be kept behind the counter and require identification to purchase. Sales of the drug would be limited to nine grams per person every 30 days, about three or four packages. The similar state bill is now back on the Senate floor after clearing both chambers.

Talent’s bill includes plans for airports and convenience stores to only carry single doses of the drug. The bill would also provide funding for the creation of a special section within the Department of Health and Services to develop a treatment for meth addiction.

Federal trials would be held

for people convicted of meth

offenses.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.