New Meth Law Will Limit Sale of Some Drugs

A new state law aimed at making methamphetamine production more difficult will take effect in mid-January of 2011.

Representative Matt Baker says his law will prohibit the over-the-counter sale of cold medications commonly used to concoct methamphetamine, or “meth.” The Bradford County Republican says those medications, such as Sudafed and Claritin, will be sold in limited numbers from a counter or locked cabinet effective January 23.

Baker says now that the new regulations will match standing federal law, Pennsylvania won’t have to rely on federal law enforcement alone when dealing with meth production.

Baker says the measure was partly inspired by a 2004 incident in Bradford County.

“Two deputy sheriffs were serving warrants on individuals suspected of production and illegal activity of methamphetamine, and they were actually murdered. So I felt compelled to do something in their name to try to restrict the illegal manufacture and distribution of meth.”

The representative says meth production mostly affects rural areas, where there’s plenty of room to build a laboratory for producing the drug. Baker says as Pennsylvania has the highest rural population in America, he hopes the law can lessen the burden on law enforcement agencies across the countryside.