AP: Patriot Act includes crackdown on meth use

[Eugene]

Monday, March 6, 2006 · Last updated 3:56 p.m. PT

Patriot Act includes crackdown on meth use

By LAURIE KELLMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- Suffer from springtime allergies? You could be among the first affected
by the USA Patriot Act poised for final congressional passage this week.

Besides terrorism, the bill takes aim at the production of methamphetamine, a highly
addictive drug that cannot be manufactured without a key ingredient of everyday cold
and allergy medicines. The bill would impose new limits next month for how much relief
a person can buy over the counter.

And beginning Sept. 30, it'll take a flash of ID to buy that medication.

The legislation sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. and Jim Talent, R-Mo.,
would blanket the nation with one policy that would put medicines containing pseudoephedrine
behind the counter and out of the reach of meth cooks.

<snip>

Full article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Patriot_Act_Meth.html

I don't like meth, but adding mission creep to the USA Patriot Act
is a recipe for dictatorship.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. It's already a law here in Oregon...

I was against it from the very first.

It has reduced the number of local kitchen labs, that's a good thing.
It has created a larger market for the stuff from Mexico that is cleaner and stronger, that's a very bad thing.

Whole lotta people are pissed cause they can't get their cold pills.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Interesting effect in Iowa...

There was a story in the Des Moines Register about the pseudoephedrine crack down. Since people
can only buy one pkg of cold meds know--meth busts are down. However, heroin arrests--and the use of the drug--is up in Iowa.

I guess if people want drugs...they'll obtain alternatives if needed.

[starroute]

4. So that's what they're planning to do with all the Afghan opium

I've been wondering about all the stories showing up about the bumper crop of opium poppies that's expected in Afghanistan this year. There hasn't seemed to be all that much of a market for heroin in the West -- and just using it to corrupt Iranian youth can't be making that much of a dent in the supply.

But no doubt once the meth labs are closed down, the heroin supply lines will slide smoothly into place -- and whoever's inherited the racket from the CIA will have all the billions they need to keep stealing elections, or whatever else they might need a few spare bucks for.

The ecology of despotism can be amazingly efficient.

[regnaD kciN]

5. ...and Washington...

...which is a problem for me, because I just discovered that the "meth-free" substitute, Sudafed PE and similar generics, work O.K. for me when I'm mildly congested, but don't do a damn thing for a bad cold.

It took one night of having to breathe through my mouth, finally deciding to experiment and taking the last dose of real Sudafed, to learn that the real stuff works a lot better for "colds from hell."

So I had to wait at the grocery checkout line while they found the key to the restricted cabinet, then wait a bit more while they examined my I.D., then wait even longer while they got their "report to government" notebook and wrote down all my info. I don't think the shoppers stuck behind me in line were too happy, either. Although not as much as I was at the thought that I'm now probably in an FDA database as a "suspected illegal-drug manufacturer." :eyes:

Look, I'm as opposed to meth use as anyone. I've seen it ruin the lives of both addicts and those in their families and workplaces. But there certainly should be some more sensible way of stopping people from buying the hundreds of cartons of the stuff necessary to run a meth lab rather than just making life difficult for already-sick people who merely want a dozen or two pills (i.e. two to four days worth) so that they can actually breathe through their noses again.

[azurnoir]

2. Its already law in MN too

but what is drug legislation doing in the Patriot Act? Isn't this the DEA's arena or are they part of the GWOT now also? Pass the law but, it must be separated from the Patriot Act.If this is allowed to stand MJlaws will soon be included in the GWOT.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. My question is...What does that have to do with TERRORISM and

keeping us safe from Bin Laden??? That's bullshit. DiFi sponsored that??? That woman needs to GO. WTF? What else did they HIDE in that pice of garbage legislation? Never Mind. I don't want to know. My blood pressure can't take much more of this crap.:grr:

[Harald Ragnarsson]

7. Meth is so Pre-pseudoephed

SInce all these bans, now all the cookers are making something called Ice, a drug something like Meth that can be made without Sudafed.

What's next on the ban list?

Why don't we just ban everything and only let citizens get anything with the proper note from whatever authority has been placed in charge of it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Meth is a huge problem

I agree this doesn't belong in The Patriot Act but I can't criticize many attempts to control the meth epidemic.