JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, announced that he has prefiled Senate Bill 625, a common-sense, anti-meth bill aimed at helping Missouri fight methamphetamine production. The bill, authored by Sen. Sater and co-sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, places reasonable limits on pseudoephedrine sales in order to prevent its illegal diversion into methamphetamine while still ensuring that law-abiding Missourians have access to the medication they need.  In contrast to other proposals, Sen. Sater’s bill does not require all Missourians to get a prescription to purchase a pseudoephedrine-based product and, instead, targets criminals and drug dealers preying on our communities. Additionally, the bill prevents “returns” of pseudoephedrine-based products and blocks any person who has been found guilty of a drug felony offense from purchasing these medicines without a prescription.

“Missouri continues the fight against meth production, and although we’ve made progress, more work needs to be done,” said Sen. Sater. “Senate Bill 625 is a comprehensive and balanced approach to tackling Missouri’s meth problem. We are preventing meth cooks from acquiring the ingredients they need to produce this devastating drug and, by establishing a drug offender registry, we are preventing dangerous, repeat criminals from breaking the law and putting our communities at risk.”

Senator Sater continued, “Most importantly though, this law is tough on meth crime without preventing honest, law-abiding citizens from getting the medicine they need. As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to create policies that punish criminals without punishing honest consumers. Senate Bill 625 accomplishes this task. I look forward to working on this bill with my colleagues in the Senate and all concerned parties to produce strong and effective solutions to our state’s meth problem.”

Details of SB 625:

• The bill lowers the monthly limit of pseudoephedrine that an individual can purchase from 9 grams to 7.2 grams;
• The bill adds the provision of a yearly purchase amount of 60 grams without a prescription;
• The bill lowers the amount of pseudoephedrine that a person can legally possess from 24 grams to 14.4 grams;
• If pseudoephedrine is purchased and then returned to the pharmacy, it still counts towards an individual’s 7.2 gram total;
• Pharmacists have the discretion to, in good faith, refuse sale of pseudoephedrine to any individual without criminal or civil liability; and
• A person who has been found guilty of any drug felony offense must obtain a prescription for any product containing pseudoephedrine.