The bill that would require a doctor’s
prescription for some cold medicines is headed to the state Senate following
passage Wednesday night by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Committee members sent the bill to the
full Senate following more than two hours of discussion in which Harrison
County Senator Sam Cann became emotional after hearing a Charleston
Cann opposed the law a year ago but
told Lt. Chad Napier his position had changed.
“I know what this stuff does,” Cann said, choking back
tears. “If we do this, this helps you?”
“It helps law enforcement tremendously,” Napier said.
The officer spent several minutes
describing how residents buy cold medicines, break them down and make meth.
Instead of responding to dozens of meth labs a year, Napier said officers could
spend more time fighting prescription drug abuse and heroine—things that “are
killing our kids.”
The bill would require those wanting
cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine—like Claritin-D, Advil Cold &
Sinus and Sudafed—to get a prescription from a doctor.
If the bill stays on schedule it could
be up for final reading in the Senate next Monday.
