INDIANAPOLIS — The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill paving the way for Indiana pharmacists to legitimize the sale of pseudoephedrine medication.
Legislators voted 41-8 to approve Senate Bill 80, written by Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport. It passed in committee two weeks ago and now proceeds to the House. Wednesday was the final day of the first half of the legislative session.
The bill says pharmacists can deny the sale of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine drugs — the critical component in methamphetamine production — based on the pharmacist's professional judgement, as a way to not sell the pills to meth cooks.
That means a pharmacist consults with customers to determine their reasons for buying cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed. A pharmacist can then deny the sale or recommend meth-resistant medicines.
Some people, called "smurfs," attempt to purchase more than the allowed amount of pseudoephedrine in a set period of time on behalf of meth makers. Head said he hopes his bill will stop that.
The bill was inspired by Fulton County pharmacies putting that method into effect in 2015. The county saw the number of pseudoephedrine boxes decrease by almost 50 percent in a span of eight months, from May to December 2015.
Indiana State Police have estimated that in some towns, almost 80 percent of pseudoephedrine sales are going to meth cooks or for other drugs or cash. Indiana also led the country in 2014 reported meth labs — 1,488.
A House bill with similar guidelines to that Senate Bill 80 passed the House on Wednesday, by a vote of 92-7.
Written by Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, the bill states anyone who is a patient of record at a pharmacy may buy any cold medicine. But, if a person doesn't regularly visit a pharmacy and wants a drug such as Sudafed, the pharmacist either offers one of the meth-resistant brands — similar to Head's bill — or a small amount of a pseudoephedrine medicine.
The bill also allows pharmacists to make judgments on when to sell cold medicines. Head said Smaltz modified parts of his bill to coordinate with Senate Bill 80.
Since both bills have moved on to their respective side of the General Assembly, Head said he and Smaltz will meet and discuss the bills and try to agree on a final product, either by amending one of the bills or both having the same wording.
If the two lawmakers disagree, Head said the bills would go to a conference committee to align into one collective piece of legislation.