Contact:
Ethnie Groves, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156
Bill Represents Major Step Forward in Battle Against Meth
Governor Jim Doyle today signed Senate Bill 78, which requires identification for the purchase of ingredients used in the production of methamphetamine and limits the amount a person can purchase in a 30 day period.
“Although meth use in Wisconsin is at a lower lever than any of our neighbors, we cannot afford to sit back and rest,” Governor Doyle said. “Meth is a very serious threat to our communities and to our young people.”
SB 78 will require citizens to present identification when purchasing ingredients used in the production of methamphetamine. Products with pseudoephedrine – a key ingredient in the production of meth – will be placed behind a pharmacist’s counter. The bill requires that pseudoephedrine can only be sold by a pharmacist or someone working under the direction of a pharmacist. The bill will also limit the amount of pseudoephedrine a citizen could purchase in a 30 day period.
“This bill won’t get in the way of a family who has a legitimate need for cold medicine but it will cause serious problems for the meth cooks who need up to 1,000 pills to make a single ounce of meth,” Governor Doyle said. “And we know that this legislation works.”
The Governor said that Oklahoma enacted similar legislation last year. In March 2004, before the bill became law, Oklahoma seized 104 meth labs and by March 2005, seizures were down to 10.
SB 78 will also protect Wisconsin from methamphetamine related crime by bringing penalties in line with neighboring states, including Iowa and Minnesota.
The Governor said that while methamphetamine use, production, and distribution are serious problems statewide, Western Wisconsin – including St. Croix County and its surrounding areas – has borne the brunt of the problem. St. Croix County submitted 300 cases of meth to the State Crime Lab over the last six years. In comparison, Milwaukee County, which has a population 13 times larger, had less than 40 cases.
“As Attorney General, I worked in close collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to meet the challenges posed by this dangerous and destructive drug,” Governor Doyle said. “As Governor, I am happy today to provide law enforcement and community leaders with an additional tool to prevent methamphetamine use.”
Governor Doyle thanked Senators Sheila Harsdorf and Bob Jauch and Representatives Kitty Rhoades and Mary Hubler for their hard work on the bill.
