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New law will be tool in fight against meth
Published 12:00am Sunday, February 10, 2013Ohio House Bill 334, an anti-methamphetamine bill, was recently signed into law by Ohio Gov. John Kasich. This bill will provide retailers an ability to block unlawful transactions of cold and allergy medicines that contain pseudoephedrine (PSE) and that exceed the daily or monthly limits established by the 2005 Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act.
The importance of this bill is that pseudoephedrine is an essential ingredient in the making of methamphetamine.
In addition to alerting retailers of unlawful attempts at purchasing PSE, law enforcement officials have access to data that may alert them to a person purchasing PSE in order to manufacture meth.
It is important to note the law will not prevent law-abiding consumers to have access to medicines they rely on for relief from cold and allergy symptoms. Ohio now is the 25th state to adopt such anti-methamphetamine legislation.
In Lawrence County during 2012 there were 18 people arrested and prosecuted for possessing chemicals and devices used for methamphetamine manufacturing.
If you suspect methamphetamine is being used or manufactured in your neighborhood, please contact the Lawrence Drug & Major Crimes Task Force hot-line at 740-534-5830.
The bill was authored by Southeastern Ohio State Representatives Terry Johnson (Portsmouth) and Danny Bupb (West Union).
The new law is a welcome addition to the efforts of law enforcement as we seek to curb the manufacturing and abuse of methamphetamine.
Brigham M. Anderson is the Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney.
Excellent! Anything that will eliminate the drug heads in the county. What are the laws in the two adjoining states?
I still believe housing is the key to removing much of the drug problem in Lawrence County. Has law enforcement ever watched the activity at many of the disgusting motels in the area? There are also rental properties in this county that I wouldn’t let my dog live in, yet they are being rented out to many ‘questionable’ individuals, some with children. Are there no state building or health and safety codes these slum lords are suppose to meet? EVERY SLUM LORD IN THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION REGARDING EACH AND EVERY RENTER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ANYTIME THEY RENT PROPERTY. NAME, SS#, DRIVERS LICENSE, CAR LICENSE, ETC.
Another observation regarding rentals. Rental properties allow criminals from other states considerable freedom to move back and forth between states, hold up in a rental and conduct criminal activity.
While an apartment/trailer/house owner may pay property taxes on the rental property, how are the renters being assessed their fair share of school levies and other payments? If they are using the services of our county, whether they own property or not, they need to pay for those services like everyone else.
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