Senate OKs Restrictions on Cold Medicines
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sales of over-the-counter cold remedies used to make methamphetamine (search) would be restricted under a bill that passed the Senate on Friday.
The measure, approved by unanimous consent, would require stores to sell Sudafed (search), Nyquil (search) and other medicines only from behind the pharmacy counter.
Those medicines contain ingredients that can be extracted to manufacture the highly addictive drug that has wreaked havoc in communities across the country.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Consumers would have to show a photo ID, sign a log, and be limited to 7.5 grams — or about 250 30-milligram pills — in a 30-day period.
Computer tracking would prevent customers from exceeding the limit at other stores, according to the bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Jim Talent, R-Mo.
The bill is still pending in the House.