Sponsor of a bill to regulate pseudoephedrine says it may be dead.
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Sponsor of a bill to regulate pseudoephedrine says it may be dead.

Date: April 27, 2010
By: Allie Spillyards
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB1210

Intro:  A bill requiring a prescription for cold medicine in Missouri isn't expected to pass anytime soon.
RunTime:  1:07
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Representative Scott Lipke said legislation to require a prescription for Sudafed and other cold medicines probably won't pass for another four or five years.

Lipke said confusion in the interpretation of the bill has caused delays.

Actuality:  LIPKE6.WAV
Run Time:  00:16
Description: "What if someone who lives on the Missouri-Illinois border and goes across to Illinois and buys pseudoephedrine, which is legal and then brings it back into the state of Missouri. Would we be making it illegal then to possess that here in Missouri without a prescription?"
 
The bill never made it out of committee, and Lipke said he doubts it will before the end of the legislative session.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Allie Spillyards.

Intro:  People waiting for changes in pseudoephedrine regulation may have to wait longer than they thought, according to one Missouri Congressman.
RunTime:  1:07
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Representative Scott Lipke said legislation to require a prescription for Sudafed and other cold medicines may not pass for another 4 or 5 years.

It is almost the end of the legislation session and the end of Lipke's term in the Missouri House.

Lipke said confusion in the interpretation of the bill has caused delays.

Actuality:  LIPKE6.WAV
Run Time:  00:16
Description: "What if someone who lives on the Missouri-Illinois border and goes across to Illinois and buys pseudoephedrine, which is legal and then brings it back into the state of Missouri. Would we be making it illegal then to possess that here in Missouri without a prescription?"
 
Currently Missouri uses a real time monitoring system that tracks and limits the amount of pseudophedrine products customers can buy.
 
Franklin County Sargent Jason Grellner said that even though pseudoephedrine legislation has changed, it has not worked.
 

Actuality:  GRELLNE2.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "What we've come away with every year is half measures and partial fixes that have never ended the problem."

Lipke said he hopes Missouri will establish a prescription requirement similar to Oregon's within the next couple of years.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Allie Spillyards.

Intro:  Real time tracking for medicines containing pseudoephedrine may slow other legislation that would require a prescription.
RunTime:  0:57
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Missouri Representative Scott Lipke said he believes pseudoephedrine legislation will now be delayed after Governor Nixon approved real time tracking regulation.  

Franklin County Seargent Jason Grellner said a prescription law is needed to protect Missouri's citizens.

Actuality:  GRELLNER.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "Meth labs that explode and twist houses off of foundations and burn down apartment buildings kill people who may never have been involved in illegal narcotics."

Opponents of the bill worry that dealers will cross the state border to get cold medicine.

Washington pharmacy manager Mark Weydle said customers are willing to travel for medications because a prescription is required.

Actuality:  WEIDLE1.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "They'll come in here. They'll find out it's prescription only. They'll find out it's not prescription only in a couple of nearby communities and they'll say they'll drive to New Haven or some other place to get it."

Lipke said he expects the legislation may take another 4 or 5 years to be passed.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Allie Spillyards.