War requires sacrifice. The war against methamphetimine – perhaps the most destructive drug ever to threaten our communities – is no different.
A proven weapon in this war is on the verge of being added to Washington’s arsenal, if the state Senate approves it. House Bill 2266, passed overwhelmingly last month in the House, fires a volley at the creeps who manufacture meth by making it harder to obtain a key ingredient. It would require some popular cold medications, those that contain pseudoephedrine and similar compounds, be kept behind store counters. Customers could buy only limited quantities, and would have to provide photo ID and sign a registry. The idea is to discourage theft and bulk buying of these drugs, and to give law enforcement a tool in tracking down meth operations.
Normally, we would oppose such an idea as an unreasonable inconvenience and invasion of privacy. This situation, however, is not normal. In the fight against meth, the gloves must come off.
It has already been shown that such restrictions have a dramatic effect on meth production. Oklahoma, which passed a similar law a year ago, has seen seizures of meth labs fall by an astounding 80 percent. That success, combined with the deep damage meth is doing to society, makes this a must-pass measure.
Meth devastates those who use it, and leaves the rest of us in its wake. Attorney General Rob McKenna, who supports this legislation, said the tie between meth use and identity theft is clear and growing. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has called on the Justice Department to study that link and develop an effective response. McKenna applauds Cantwell’s call, but says an increase in federal aid to local law enforcement to fight meth shouldn’t wait for the predictable results of a study. President Bush’s budget calls for cuts in such aid, clearly a step in the wrong direction.
Local efforts to fight meth have helped, but they’re getting overwhelmed as the insidious drug finds new victims, gets them hooked and begins destroying their brains. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon has wisely called for merchants to voluntarily put medicines with meth-making ingredients behind the counter, and some are complying. Unless all merchants do so, however, meth cooks will continue to have easy access to what they need.
Plus, Oklahoma’s success has been noticed; other states are scrambling to adopt similar laws. If Washington doesn’t, it could make this state a destination for meth manufacturers.
We’re at war against meth, and there’s a weapon out there that’s proven to work. The state Senate needs to go along with the House and provide it.
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