A Southern Illinois law enforcement agency is praising a bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee March 10 intended to halt methamphetamine manufacture, which is on the rise in Southern Illinois.

Senate Bill 1028, sponsored by Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, goes after two related problems:the use of ephedrine-based products to create methamphetamine and the abuse of ephedrine by young people. Ephedrine is the main ingredient in such cold medicines as Sudafed.

This new bill will give us a far better set of tools to work with, said Tom McNamara, director of the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group.

Advertisement

McNamara said there have been some indications meth manufacture is on the rise in Southern Illinois.

There have been thefts of anhydrous ammonia and the purchase of two cases of ether last August, he said. Both anhydrous ammonia and ether are used in the synthesis of methamphetamine.

McNamara said methamphetamine manufacturers view Southern Illinois as a fresh market. Missouri, the nation’s leading meth-producing state, is taking measures to crack down meth labs. Many meth producers are feeling the pressure and moving across the river to Illinois. (who said)

There were 455 methamphetamine labs identified in Missouri last year with 10 of those located in Cape Girardeau County, 50 miles from Carbondale.

It doesn’t take much to set up a meth lab. Everything is portable, Luechtefeld said. The ingredients can be bought at Wal-Mart.

Under Luechtefeld’s bill, ephedrine can be sold over the counter if it is:Approved by the Food and Drug Administration;

Labeled and marketed in conformity with federal regulations;

Advertisement*

Manufactured and distributed for legitimate medical use;

Not marked for sale for stimulation, alertness, weight loss, muscle enhancement, appetite control or as an energy boost.

Also, ephedrine tablets cannot be sold in blister packs of more than two tablets. The product cannot be marked or advertised for any of the improper indications or uses.

Violation is a Class A felony for the first offense, resulting in up to a year in prison and/or a $1,000 fine. Subsequent violations are a Class 4 felony resulting in one to three years in prison.

The second provision of this bill would make it a Class 3 felony, punishable by two to five years in prison, for any person to possess ephedrine or other substances with the intent to use them to create any unlawful drugs, such as methamphetamine.

Luechtefeld said he would like to work with retailers to help them recognize when a customer might be buying items used to equip meth labs.

This is a problem we have to attack head on, Luechtefeld said. Meth is dangerous not only in its use but in its production.

Senate Bill 1028 now advances to the full Senate for its consideration.