W.Va. Senate panel scales back drug abuse bill
CHARLESTON (AP) — Retailers have trumped West Virginia health professionals and law enforcement in a debate over limiting methamphetamine ingredients.
The Senate Finance Committee voted Monday for a 7.5 grams-per-month limit on behind-the-counter cold medicine purchases.
That vote scaled back a proposed 3.6 gram limit approved last week by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
These cold remedies contain ingredients used to make meth. The state’s pharmacy and medical boards advocated that tighter limit. The State Police reported a rise in the number of meth lab busts.
Lobbyists for retailers and cold remedy makers opposed the stricter limit.
But the limit approved Monday is still lower than the 9-gram cap now in state law. It’s also what Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin proposed in his wide-ranging substance abuse bill.
Senate Finance endorsed the amended bill Monday.
