The Alabama Capitol in Montgomery, Ala.MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama House passed a bill Thursday that would require certain cold medications that contain ingredients used to make methamphetamines only be sold in pharmacies.
The bill also would limit the amount of the medication that a person could buy. It did not go as far as some wanted and require a prescription for the medication that provides relief for some allergy sufferers. A bill requiring a prescription for those medications also was introduced this session, but the bill debated in the House on Thursday seems to have the best chance of securing final passage.
The bill by Rep. Blaine Galliher, R-Gadsden, would require that the medicines, such as the common cold medication Sudafed, only be sold in pharmacies. Now, in some instances, the medications can be sold in convenience stores and other locations.
Some have pushed the Legislature to adopt legislation that would allow purchase of those types of medication only with a prescription. But Galliher argued that would punish honest residents who need the sinus-clearing medications. Galliher’s legislation limits the amount of the medication that can be sold to seven and a half grams a month.
The bill now goes to the Senate for debate.
Galliher said he suffers serious allergy problems and understands the need some people have to buy cold medicines. But he also comes from an area of northeastern Alabama with a serious meth problem and understands the need to control production of meth.
The bill also would make it a crime to have possession of the items needed to make meth.
Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, said he sees the problems in his district every day created by meth and because of that he thinks Sudafed and similar medications should be available by prescription only.
Democrat Elaine Beech, a Chatom pharmacist, said, “I totally think it needs to be a prescription.”