But they would have to be older than 17, show ID to a pharmacist and sign for the products. Pharmacists would be required to record purchases and limit how much a person could buy within 48 hours. Drug police like the measure, saying such a law would allow them to track suspicious purchases and discourage meth makers from buying the restricted products. Critics say such a law would inconvenience and anger legitimate consumers and burden already overtaxed pharmacists in the state. The mother goes to the convenience store and wants a nighttime product for herself, a daytime product for her husband who works and a pediatric product for the baby.
Drug manufacturers are strongly opposed.
But there's been support from many legislators who believe that most citizens would be willing to give up a little convenience in order to help curb the methamphetamine problem in our state. State Drug Director Bill Hardin wrote in supporting the legislation that meth production has reached nearly epidemic proportions in Arkansas. Arkansas leads the nation in the number of meth labs seized per capita in 1999 with 544, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. State Crime Laboratory officials estimate the number of meth labs seized in Arkansas in 2000 will exceed 800, the DEA said. Law enforcement officials say meth makers are mostly using pseudoephedrine, which is illegal to possess only if police have evidence it would be used to make the drug.