Anti-Meth Lab Bill Approved

Lawmakers took their final step Monday toward making Oregon the first state to require a doctor’s prescription for many cold and allergy medicines as part of an effort to shut down methamphetamine labs.

The House voted 57 to 2 to send the bill to Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who is expected to sign it into law this week. He has called the measure a major step in the fight against rampant methamphetamine use.

The legislation targets over-the-counter medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, which can be converted into highly addictive methamphetamine.

The bill won overwhelming approval in both chambers despite complaints from a few lawmakers who said that some people would be angry at having to get prescriptions for common drugs including Sudafed and Claritin D.

On Monday, a leading backer of the bill called that argument “ridiculous.”

Republican Rep. Wayne Krieger said other cold and allergy medicines come in versions that contain phenylephrine, an alternative to pseudoephedrine that works just as well for most consumers.

“Is this bill going to be an inconvenience for some people? Yes, a little one,” Krieger said. “But 99% of people will find out that the other products are just as good, and they will buy them.”

Under the bill, the state Board of Pharmacy will have until next July to implement the prescription requirement.

Gary Schnabel, the board’s executive director, said the rule could be put into effect sooner than that, possibly within three months.