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By JGillman, Section News
Posted on Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 04:40:07 PM EST
Tags: Cold Medicine, Matt Lori, Michigan, Prescription Snot Blaster, Tracking, Pharmacies, Knee-Jerk Reactionary (all tags)

Seriously. I am saying this.

When daddy or mommy are considering whether or not to go grab a bottle of Triminic, Flintstones gravel throat annihilator, or one of the wildly popular alternatives to give a some relief to little Suzie with the runny nose and scratchy pipes, the last thing they should have to concern themselves with is an appointment with the family doctor. A $7 bottle of cold medication that if Michigan state representative Matt Lori has his way could cost another $60-$100.

"No Suzie.. Suck it up, and take it like a man"

Lori, a Republican from Constantine wants to essentially move the counter of pharmacies out into the aisle a few more feet by making cold medicines which are now considered OTC (over the counter) "prescription only."

"Lori, a former St. Joseph County sheriff, said he was prompted to seek the change because he is fed up with the massive cost to taxpayers methamphetamine has brought to Michigan."

"Fed up with the cost ... "

When I saw this I about needed a big ol bottle of unbranded snot killer myself to deal with a minor choking issue.

Seriously Matt. Think long and hard about what you are proposing. Make this article inaccurate by reconsidering the costs you would be bringing to families that just want a little relief from their kid's sneezing attacks or coughing. Parents would be fed up with the costs the first time they face this issue.

There may be some different answers, but this isn't it. So I did some looking through Google ~below~

Apparently Michigan is not alone with law enforcement types (Lori is a former 'law enforcement type') advocating this type of legislation.

Two months ago, Gallagher testified in front of the House Committee on Public Health in favor an alternative bill -- one that would have required a doctor's prescription to obtain pseudoephedrine, a common cold-medicine ingredient that's also a key ingredient in meth.

This alternative bill described, is one that Lori apparently proposes.

That bill, which was also supported by state police and the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, failed to make it out of committee. A similar version also died in the Senate.

Alternative to the tracking plan proposed that is done at a point of sale:

Twelve states have passed laws to require retailers and pharmacists to use real-time statewide electronic sales systems that can block illegal pseudoephedrine (PSE) purchases and allow law enforcement to track down meth cooks. These systems process PSE sales much like a credit card transaction, declining sales that would put a purchaser over the legal limit, no matter where a previous purchase was made within the state.

Judging by the numbers, I swear it must be tough to be a cop and consider oneself truly conservative.

Bottom line is that this is all a bunch of garbage. There are bad guys out there that will take advantage of whatever is on the shelf at the local drugstore, 7-11, or sip-n-sav. If we keep allowing ourselves to be jockeyed around for our own safety, and played in a way that causes undue hardship then maybe we deserve what these guys put before us legislatively.

A properly managed tracking system would avoid the troubles of having to call the doc's office, go get a prescription, and face the pitfalls of a new reality in health care.

Little Suzie just wants relief, not an answer to poor enforcement of drug controls.

< Seeing how they work. | Michigan Redistricting: Two Possible State Senate Maps >

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Think of the Children. | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

Dumb, dumb, dumb (none / 0) (#1)
by Rougman on Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 05:13:41 PM EST

This reminds me of a relatively recent situation that occurred in Indiana, a state that has adopted an alternative to the one being suggested by Lori.

Grandma got tossed in the slammer.

Ending the war on drugs would save us all the money we currently spend on meth as well as save us from potentially silly laws proposed by essentially silly lawmakers.

Those who fail to learn from the lessons of histor (none / 0) (#2)
by KG One on Wed Apr 06, 2011 at 08:28:40 PM EST

"Meth is not going away until we put controls on (pseudoephedrine)," said Tony Saucedo, head of the Michigan State Police methamphetamine investigation unit."I'd like to shake (Lori's) hand."

I'm sorry, but since when did it fall within the purview of government to mandate these asinine laws to begin with?

I'm serious here.

I was under the impression that Republicans were for limited government?

Claiming to stand for limited government flies right in the face what State Rep. Lori-r is proposing for his 15-minutes of media fame.

I really could care less if someone if using cold medicine to recreate the electric kool aid acid test or to...gasp, treat the symptoms of a cold for a family member or themselves.

Placing yet even more barriers between me and purchasing a lawful product smacks of a nanny-state, regardless of which party is behind it.

And Mr. Sauceto's comments display a glaring ignorance of American History.

The nanny-state tried placing "controls" on things before. Remember how swell prohibition worked when that was the law of the land?

Maybe after someone wakes him from his Eliot Ness-esque stupor, they should fill him in on how that plan turned out.

And sorry, Jason.

Not only does the government have absolutely no compelling interest in my buying habits whatsoever at the corner drug store (which includes ANY gov't mandated/monitored tracking system), but it also lacks the authority.

Do the republicans in Lansing need to be reminded of that fact as well?

Substantial Restrictions Are Already in Place (none / 0) (#3)
by The Wizard of Laws on Thu Apr 07, 2011 at 08:18:54 AM EST

Michigan law already requires retailers to keep products containing pseudoephedrine secure, and it's a felony to possess more than 12 grams of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

Is there some indication that these measures have not been effective in reducing the meth problem? If there is a meth problem, is it traceable to Michigan-based pseudoephedrine sales, or is the stuff coming in from other states or countries? Has "prescription only" status eliminated problems with oxycontin or vicodin?

It's always troubling when a legislator reacts to a situation by immediately going to the most draconian response available, ignoring the consequences Jason describes. The Wiz backs law enforcement to the hilt, but only after the law is in place. Until the law is signed by the governor, there's room for discussion and study.

NO-MORE-ROOM_FOR-BS (none / 0) (#4)
by maidintheus on Fri May 13, 2011 at 09:58:47 PM EST

This rampant protection is bs! It has no end, just insidious encroachment and punishment for the good guys. Obviously, it gives an excuse to charge fees, taxes, fines in order to take from each according to what is in your wallet...by any means necessary.

Think of the Children. | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

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