Congressman weighs in on state issue, supporting prescription rule for cold medicines used to make methamphetamine

Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky's 5th District is backing state legislation that would require a prescription for the sale of medicines like pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The congressman, right, sent out a column to every newspaper in the state last week expressing his support.

"We can't ignore the potential for this legislation to nearly eliminate meth labs in Kentucky, as reports are showing it has already done in Oregon and Mississippi," Rogers wrote.

A Rogers ally, state Sen. Tom Jensen, R-London, filed the bill Jan. 4. It would require a prescription for ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine, which are now sold over the counter. It would also prohibit a practitioner from dispensing more than 9 grams of the medicines to a user within a 30-day period.

Roger Alford of The Associated Press reports Republicans and Democrats alike support the bill, but industry groups like the Consumer Healthcare Products Association strongly oppose it and have been running large newsppaer ads against it. (Read more)