Holden Puts Forward Meth-Fighting Proposal

Governor Bob Holden uses his Governor’s Conference on Meth to announce a proposal he believes will help keep methamphetamine off the streets. He’s calling for all medicines containing ephedrine – a key ingredient in meth – to be regulated as a drug which would require a licensed pharmacist to dispense the medication. A law already exists to restrict the sale of over-the-counter medications that can be used to make meth, but Holden says stricter rules are needed. He points to an Oklahoma law which requires customers to provide photo identification and to sign a registry that they have purchased the products. That establishes a record that can be used to determine whether someone is stockpiling the drug. He hopes the Legislature acts on the idea in the new year.