STATEHOUSE (Feb. 11, 2013) — A bill initiated by State Sen. Carlin Yoder (R-Middlebury) to further strengthen anti-methamphetamine laws across Indiana passed the full Senate 44-4.

Senate Bill 496 would create tighter restrictions on ephedrine/pseudoephedrine — a key meth ingredient found in many over-the-counter decongestants. Yoder’s legislation:

• Allows ephedrine/pseudoephedrine to be sold only at retailers participating in the National Precursor Log Exchange database, which tracks the sale of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine products.
• Prohibits anyone convicted of certain meth-related crimes from possessing ephedrine/pseudoephedrine without a prescription for seven years.
• Increases the criminal penalty for a person who buys more than 10 grams of certain meth ingredients – including ephedrine/pseudoephedrine – with the intent to give them to another person for meth making.
• Limits how much ephedrine/pseudoephedrine a person can buy in a one-year period without a prescription to 61.2 grams. (Current Indiana law already contains a one-day limit of 3.6 grams and a 30-day limit of 7.2 grams, but does not have a one-year limit.)

“This legislation limits access to ephedrine products for people convicted of meth-related crimes without increasing the burden on Hoosier families who need these products for legitimate medical reasons,” Yoder said.

Yoder also noted the bill was amended to create a criminal penalty for individuals who cause a fire while making meth. Indiana’s current arson law only applies to fires set intentionally — meaning accidental fires are not punishable.   

SB 496 will be sponsored in the House by Rep. Jud McMillin and is expected to be assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.

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