Miss. gov gets bill that would requiring prescription for cold medicines used to make meth

Cold meds prescription bill goes to Miss. governor

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi is poised to become only the second state to require a doctor’s prescription for cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in methamphetamine.

The state Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill Tuesday, and it had previously been passed by the House. Gov. Haley Barbour says he plans to sign the measure into law, and says it will lead to fewer meth labs in the state.

The law take effect July 1. Oregon passed a similar law in 2006, and similar legislation has been introduced in Georgia, Missouri and Washington. Some municipalities in Missouri have passed similar ordinances restricting the purchase of medicines such as Sudafed and Claritin-D.

Drug manufacturers opposing the measure have said a real-time tracking system would be more effective.