Bill to restrict ephedrine/pseudoephedrine sales to be heard Tues.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Laws are already on the books restricting sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, but one lawmaker said they're not tough enough.

“The meth problem in Indiana is a terrible problem,” said Senator Carlin Yoder (R-Middlebury). “We are dealing with this in the southern part of the state, we're dealing with in the northern part of the state, and I'm sure it's a bad problem in the central part too.”

One major concern is that current laws allow ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to be purchased too easily, facilitating the manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine.

Currently, limits are placed on the amount purchased per day and per month, allowing an individual to buy up to 86.4 grams in one year.

Sen. Yoder’s new proposal, Senate Bill 496, would do away with daily and monthly limits, instead mandating a yearly limit of 72 grams.

If folks need more than that, they will need a prescription.

“This drug kills families; it eats them alive,” Yoder said. “We've got to do everything it takes to prevent  meth from growing even more than it is and we've got to stop it, and this is another step in that battle.”

In addition to the yearly limits, other key pieces of Senate Bill 496 include:

• Indiana State Police would have to create and maintain a statewide registry of everyone convicted of methamphetamine related offenses.
• Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine may be sold only at a pharmacy.
• Anyone convicted of a methamphetamine related offense can't possess ephedrine or pseudoephedrine for seven years, unless it’s obtained by a prescription.

As the laws stand now, consumers have to be 18 years old and present a government issued photo ID to buy the products.

Also, everyone who purchases ephedrine or pseudoephedrine is logged into electronic database.

Those portions of the law would remain the same.