New Sudafed Laws.

As of 9/30/06 – a new sudafed law took into effect.
Every single product containing pseudoephedrine (PSE) has to be either in a locked cabinet or behind the counter. Also all sales of PSE containing products need to be logged in a book with a drivers license number, address, reason for taking it (wtf?) and signature. This is to “Curb the production of Methamphetamine”. The daily limit is 3.6 grams of sudafed and the monthly limit is 9 grams of sudafed.
This is so fucking outrageous and stupid it makes my head spin. -All- PSE containing products. That means infant cough/cold drops need to be locked up. Dimatapp needs to be locked up. Everything! Retarded! Is some crackhead going to cook 60 gallons of pediacare drops to make meth? Fuck no! I can see the stock bottles of 100 PSE 60mg, but childrens cold preps?
Who are they fooling anyways? Do they think that this is magically going to stop the production of meth? Dont they realize that the shit is being trucked in by the tons from Mexico? That its perfectly possible for a person to drive across the boarder, pick up like eleventybillion pounds of this shit, and just truck right on back in?
But no, just like guns and other things that are cool, the law abiding citizens have to pay for all the fuckups doing. I predict that this will have no effect on the production of meth. Im even willing to put money on it.
What gets me, is that they have to sign a log book, and their daily limit is 3.6 grams. What stops them from just going across the street to Walgreens and picking up another 3.6 grams; then to Longs, 3.6 grams; Rite Aid? Yup! 3.6 grams! Who cares if they sign the log book. The DEA agent is going to look at it and say “Yup, this dude we caught went to 10 different pharmacies in the same day and bought sudafed”. No fucking shit asshole! Will the pharmacies get in trouble? No, because we complied with the 3.6 grams/day law. So really, whats the point of this stupid shit anyways? Much like cocaine, C2 narcotics, and the “War on Drugs” bullshit, this whole program looks good on paper but will cost us more money and time than building a huge moat (with sharks) between us and Mexico.
People need to start using some common sense and stop selling sudafed to the fucking tweaker at 3am rather than punish the rest of us. I know what will curb the production of meth, public executions for the people who make it.

Comments #

Comment by Ben Bleything on 2006-10-07 21:44:37 -0700 #

They’ve been doing this in Oregon for at least a year. It’s fucking ridiculous. Makes me want to get a bunch of fake IDs just to buy a shit-load of sudafed and hoard it.

Comment by Elizabeth on 2006-10-08 13:17:38 -0700 #

We have had this rule in the state I work in for about a year and a half. I had to tell a 17 year old mother that she couldn’t buy a decongestant for her baby because she wasn’t old enough. For a bottle with less than 1 24 hour Sudafed tablet. There has been no decrease in meth sales, just in the “mom and pop” labs. The even sadder thing to me is that there is an additve that they can add to the farmers nitrogen that makes in impossible to convert and they won’t make that manditory but they will allow the above situation to happen.

Comment by Melissa on 2006-10-12 12:20:47 -0700 #

I don’t know about how it is where you live, but here in Meth capitol, USA AKA Missouri, it’s entered electronically now by driver’s license number and I’m not entirely sure the database is connected but I think if it isn’t it will be soon.

Comment by Ben C. on 2006-12-19 00:01:48 -0800 #

All this has done is make me want to try crystal meth so that I can clear my freakin sinuses.

Comment by Bryan on 2007-02-28 21:56:02 -0800 #

I’m from Oregon where Pseudofed went schedule 4 Rx last summer; before that we had the hand-written log-book that did lead to catching some local meth makers, but it probably wasn’t worth the effort since the logbooks weren’t linked.
I thought the reason for the Rx/behind the counter rules were to decrease the meth supply (which clearly would be ineffective due to international production), but after talking to the head of the state Meth task-force, he made it clear that they were trying to stop the local meth production, not overall supply. The local toxic labs ruin houses/buildings and cost local governments tens-hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up, seriously draining law-enforcement budgets.
December 2006 (a few months after it went Rx only) was the FIRST month in years when Oregon had NO home meth labs found. Yes these laws work at stopping local production, and yes for most people the PE substitute will work fine; yeah it’s a bitch to have to get an Rx for Pseudofed, but it’s probably worth the hassel/higher price to stop local methlabs.

Comment by G-man on 2007-03-06 20:00:54 -0800 #

With a horrible cold I went to the store- no three stores and there is not a single place in this god forsaken town that houses Penn State University that has a pharmacy open past 9pm. Fuck this. Welcome to the communist state of America.

Comment by Tina Marsolek on 2007-08-06 13:41:33 -0700 #

Even the theory behind this act is flawed, as with many, many of our laws nowdays. The only thing this law does is to keep the upstanding, law-abiding people from getting the medicines they need. Meanwhile, the meth labs are still operating full scale, and meth has become the #1 drug in the USA. I am a teacher, but was made to feel like a 1st class felon on a drug seeking binge when I dutifully went to the pharmacist to purchase the sudafed I need to take with my allergy meds and was told that they wouldn’t sell it to me because I was over the limit. I had 2 boxes of sudafed. Yes, I buy it regularly, 2 boxes a month of 12 hour sudafed, but that is because my doctor told me that I would have no problem buying it since I’m healthy, and have all my teeth, therefore didn’t need a prescription. I walked away from the line that had formed behind me to witness the criminal trying to buy drugs legally over the counter, feeling like shit. Meanwhile, somewhere in this city someone is purchasing all the sudafed they need to make a new batch of meth because they’ve found a way to circumvent this ridicules law.

Comment by Tammy on 2007-09-25 16:08:37 -0700 #

This whole thing makes me sick. I have a family of four. Both of my kids suffer from seasonal allergies and asthma. Sudafed is the only thing we have found that dries up the drainage. Today I go to the pharmacy and I patiently wait. A police officer walks by. Then another comes in 5 minutes after. I see the tech hand them my drivers license. 10 minutes go by and I am feeling nervous. What the hell. The stupid bitch didnt do her math right. Not only did they waste my time and the cities time I was humiliated in front of other customers. There aught to be some sort of law to protect our rights also.

Comment by Sarah on 2009-04-19 09:03:35 -0700 #

Try working in a part of the country where in the spring our pollen count routinely hits 8000-10000 (yes, that many zeros) and the Claritin-D fools come out in droves and then bless me out (or better, talk trash about me to their friend, as if I can’t hear them). I always tell them if they don’t like the rule, they can contact their state/federal representatives since they’re the ones that came up with it (not sure if that’s true or not, but it usually shuts them up, probably since they have no idea who their rep is). Of course, that plan has since back-fired on me since this year our brilliant state legislature introduced a bill to make all PSE products RX only. Fortunately, they are too incompetent to pass anything, so this bill died. Better yet are the ones who when you explain to them that this is to curb meth production, ask, Well how do you make meth from sudafed?

Comment by ALLISON on 2009-04-26 09:10:14 -0700 #

i went to jail this week. i still do not know why. i’ve been so upset. i was asleep when they beat on my door there was about 20 cops and a wich with a camera.they drug me out like an animal. i do not do meth they found nothing in my home. i spent all day behind bars for buying sadafed. i would laugh but it was not funny. my husband was shot and killed a few yers back the guy who shot him walked but i go to jail for sudafed. i have severe allergeis and it helped me . now im lalbled a crack addict in my town. im under a 1500.00 bond trial date june 16th 2009 . im so upset im considering never getting out of bed a again.what is wrong with this picture? im 48 and never been arrested before.

Comment by Meren on 2009-05-23 20:42:52 -0700 #

I have a problem with this law, because it seems that if the monthly limit is 9.0 Grams, and the Daily Limit 3.6 grams
then the computer should not be screwing things up so bad
when you go to purchase it.
I purchased 20 pills which is 2400 MG or 2.4 Grams a few weeks ago
then I went again to try and purchase just yesterday
and was not allowed, not sure how they are calculating the monthly limit
if it is carried over, or if you are getting screwed over because
other members of the same family or same household are buying it.
makes no sense to me. and can’t find info on changes in governments policy as relating to local pharmacies.

Comment by Meren on 2009-05-23 20:48:02 -0700 #

I would go to Marcs and buy it since they have it in a log book,
but I would rather buy it at CVS, where they have a generic brand
that costs alot less, and marcs only carries products with 10 pills
I like the 20 count box of the 12 hour pseudoephedrine the CVS Brand
but can’t figure out how possibly I was over the limit when I only got it once this month.
and not sure how the monthly limit is calculated.
I seem to have chronic sinus problems and the pseudo is the only thing that truly works.

Comment by Arlo on 2009-11-30 08:38:39 -0800 #

I am a legitimate user of Sudafed and figured I’d weigh in on this thread. It has become a bit more difficult to obtain, and this seems reasonable enough if it keeps kids from wrecking themselves. I am concerned that I might inadvertently go over the limit if I lose the drug (e.g. while traveling) and need to purchase more.

Comment by Deauxe on 2010-02-04 17:44:50 -0800 #

I CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE ARE SO UP SET, THE CRIMINALS RUIN IT FOR THE HONEST PERSON. THE NEW LAW NOW SENDS YOUR LICENSE INFORMATION TO A DATA BASE THAT CAN BE REVIEWED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND ARREST HAVE BEEN MADE. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE ARREST THAT HAS BEEN MADE ALSO PRODUCED EVIDENCE OF A METH LAB. I KNOW IT SUCKS BUT IF IT PREVENTS YOUR KID FROM LEARNING HOW TO MAKE IT OR USE IT THEN THE LAW HAS DONE THERE JOB

Comment by FJ on 2010-02-24 09:02:05 -0800 #

NAZI america, punish the innocent for the guilty’s crimes.
Take from the poor and give to the rich. I don’t take medicine because I don’t trust what the government puts in it.

Medicine isn’t worth ANARCHY america.

Tell that to the rich people who run america, the banks and the major coporations.

Comment by Jon on 2010-03-02 01:11:56 -0800 #

Can’t do the time? Don’t do the crime… Maybe next time you will research the laws better before you go breaking them. Your time in jail will give you plenty of time to do just that. No pity for you, I hope the handcuffs hurt….criminal

Comment by Jon on 2010-03-02 01:13:54 -0800 #

Better be aware of how much you have bought… Inadvertent or not, you will still go to jail.

Comment by sid on 2010-05-21 14:08:45 -0700 #

Jon,
You’re so full of *%$#! Apparently you didn’t read the lady’s comments above. Another Nazi that that’s willing to label someone who even told you she had allergies, did not do meth, and had never been arrested before. Do you know something about her that everyone else does not? Or are you just trying to hurt her further by calling her a criminal?

Your reply to her comment drives me to label you an ASS.

Comment by SG on 2010-06-21 15:40:47 -0700 #

I suffer from chronic sinusitis. The Sudafed that you buy behind the counter is the only thing that works for me (and I’ve tried nearly everything out there for sinus problems). I don’t know if they’ve made the laws tougher, but I used to be able to buy it a few times a month, and now, I keep getting denied. I do not do drugs, I hardly ever drink and I’m not a criminal. I’m tired of being treated like one just because some stupid redneck trailer trash use it to make meth.

While I have to wait for the time limit to pass, I sit here with sinus pain and pressure, and suffer. This law needs to change. It is not fair to punish people like myself who are using it legitimately. It is frustrating, and (literally) painful.

And by the way, state legislatures and DEA, you can pass these ridiculous laws, but all it means is that now the actual drug users will just get their stuff from Mexico or wherever (or they’ll find some other ingredient to make their poison). Meanwhile, those who legitimately need the Sudafed continue to sit here and suffer. Jackasses.

Comment by CS on 2010-07-04 22:26:59 -0700 #

I have to say that I agree with all of you who think these laws are ridiculous and hurt more people than they help. I am a 40 year old mother of 4; 3 of which are still minors. In the spring and early summer they suffer from awful sinus problems as do both I and my husband. Well, in May of this year, both my husband and I were arrested for buying more than the 6.0 gram per 30 day limit(Alabama law). It made no difference that neither of us have ever been arrested, we don’t do drugs AND NOTHING “suspicious” was found at our home. We have been to our first court appearance and we both plead not guilty because according Alabama law, it is only a crime to purchase too much Sudafed if you have “intent to manufacture”. I’m really not worried about how the trial will go because I KNOW we have not nor did we “intend” to do anything wrong. We were just trying to care for our kids. It’s just a crock that good honest people have to fight so hard to prove their innocense while being dragged through the mud by the legal system and murderers and rapists walk free because so much time and money is spent harassing people looking for sinus relief for themselves and their kids.

Comment by Nathan on 2010-07-18 10:27:39 -0700 #

Agree these laws are out of control and i’m quite tired of it. My wife takes sudafed pretty much daily, and unfortunately she also really doesn’t/cant leave the house much which leaves me running off to the store to buy this using my ID. Which means that if I ever need any, I am pretty much screwed. Not to mention I still have to go to the pharmacy every two weeks on the dot to get this shit, and god forbid if I have to leave town 2-3 days before we can get some more I guess they’ll just have to cart me off to prison. Thanks to our clueless politicians and our useless “war” on drugs. Want to know the real reason people have been cooking up meth in their kitchens? It has nothing to do with sudafed it has to do with our restrictions and our “war” on drugs. Guess what? If you want to dope yourself up, kill your self by overdosing, or reduce yourself to the mental capacity of a grapefruit go right ahead! I have no problem with it what so ever, it’s called natural selection and this country is way too full of people who should have been naturally selected out of the gene pool long ago. Want to stop the meth labs and the illegal import of drugs? Legalize all this shit and forget about this stupid war on drugs, and give me back my damn sudafed!

Did we not learn from prohibition about how inneffective substance laws are?? Despite these laws most drugs are just about as readily available as a 12oz can of coke from a fending machine. Glad our government spends billions of dollars trying to regulate substances and enforce worthless laws.

And yes, someone else had it just right. Welcome to the Communist States of America!

Comment by Dr. Phil on 2010-07-19 06:56:38 -0700 #

At the pharmacy I work at, we enter people’s driver’s licence numbers and other info into our computer system. If someone comes in and buys a box of Sudafed 24-Hour, will the transaction show up in another pharmacy’s computer system? I’m not sure if they’re linked together or not, but it seems like that would be the only way to deter would-be meth cooks.

Comment by Mrs DrPhil on 2010-08-16 19:28:57 -0700 #

I my self would like to know is there a state regestry such as the one use for other controled drugs or are the pharmaccies ( CVS, Wal Mart, ect) link its computer to see how much and whn you buy the sudafed products. Any one know were to look to find out?

Comment by mbuel on 2010-12-28 19:36:14 -0800 #

this is just typical statism. They see a problem and punish the law abiding citizen for the problem.

Then you have sheeple like Jon who are okay with losing freedom, for a little more security.

Jon, when they came for the Sudafed you said nothing… When they came for 4loko, you said nothing. When they come for something YOU USE, it will be too late.

Being an allergy sufferer I have to take sudafed daily. Here in Washington a Republican was proud of his vote for more Tyranny. Now last month he got voted out for a Republican that will stand against more Statism.

I’m sick and tired of this BS. Just legalize drugs, We tried battling Alcoholism with prohibition. It was a complete and total failure. It increased crimes and practically created the Mob.

Now we are doing the same with other drugs. The Mobs now are in Mexico smuggling drugs we refuse to legalize.

Does illegalization stop use? NOPE. It increases criminal activity, and makes law abiding citizens criminals. Despite the current crisis, Government is not the solution to the problem, Government IS the problem.

Comment by Garthurd on 2011-05-03 22:13:54 -0700 #

I just had to go through the bullshit procedure of buying Sudafed at a Bartell’s in Washington State. Had to show my driver’s license, then fill out a form with the same information that is on my driver’s license. Had to print my name…sign my name…write my address…write my birthdate…etc…etc.! Why are innocent people being punished because a few meth heads want to misuse a product that helps millions of others get through the discomfort of a cold or allergies? I am so sick of this nanny state government I just want to scream. Here’s a thought…ARREST THE METH USERS AND DRUG DEALERS!!! I have no idea how much Sudafed it takes to make meth, but I’m guessing its more than a few dozen little red pills. Here’s another thought…if someone goes into a drug store and wants to buy Sudafed by the pallet, get THEIR drivers license and personal info and leave the rest of us alone you goddamned Nazi pigs!!!!!

Comment by Donna on 2011-05-16 21:31:38 -0700 #

My brother-in-law had to go to court about 1.5 weeks ago for a summons he received regarding buying too much Sudafed. This is absolutely ridiculous. He has never had drug charges in his life. He is working two jobs to support his family. His wife (my sister) and his daughter both have sinus problems. His wife of course lives with him in LaPorte, Indiana but his daughter is down at DePauw University so therefore, he had to buy enough Sudafed for both of them. The moronic cop who pressed charges against him should have at least asked him what was going on and if he checked to see if he had any previous charges regarding drugs, should have at least given him the benefit of the doubt. So, right now, he has to go back to court again because the judge (who previously tried to commit suicide by blowing her brains out) would not let me talk to the prosecutor without a lawyer which I might add he cannot afford. So, my brother-in-law has been trying get in touch with some friends in the police department but no one will call him back. I am so mad, I could just spit. My brother-in-law works his butt off to take care of his family in which he has an autistic son and they are currently trying to find another home because the current house they are renting is going up for sale, and to top it all off, the place where he works may be going out on strike. He does not need any added aggravation. My god, if he gets arrested, he could lose everything and this is positively, absolutely ridiculous and should never have even gone this far. There has to be a way that innocent people can defend themselves against trumped-up charges.

Comment by spazak on 2011-12-01 22:42:24 -0800 #

I discoverd ephedra when, for several years I didn’t have medical insurance and couldn’t afford the asthma medication I needed. Now, because a bunch of government a-holes want to feel important and feel like they’re making a dent (HA!) in the drug war, I have to be carded when I want to buy sudafed?!?!?! Come on people, the Pharmacists are already busy enough dealing with real prescriptions! And like some of the previous comments stated, God-freakin-forbid if my husband and I are both sick at the same time! Heres to yet another stupid-pointless law for the already overcrowded lawbooks! Get me off of this damn planet!

Comment by mark on 2012-02-20 09:22:59 -0800 #

I have allergies and take cordizone nasal spray sometimes nazonex and other times the generic. Even at that sometimes I still suffer with congestion. Sudafed is the only other thing that helps. claritan allegra and zertec do little I have tried them all.
I think along with the person who spent time in jail for accidently buying to much sudafed for her NEEDS! If Jon was stuffed up 24/7 for weeks and months like I have been before maybe he would have some sympathy for other people.It’s like having a cold all the time. On top of that I think Jon is a real jurk.

Comment by Richard on 2012-03-29 04:47:13 -0700 #

I went to buy some Sudafed the other day, grabbed the ‘card’ for the one I wanted and went up to the counter. They were out of that one (much like they always are) so the pharmacists picked up one next to the one I wanted, it had a few less in the pack. I said as long as it’s the same then that’s fine. The next morning I took one and became even more congested. I decided I might need to take another, that’s when I noticed the box said “with NSAID”, I’m allergic to NSAIDS, I had a severe allergic reaction… what if I would have taken that second one?? I went straight to CVS to let them know they gave me the wrong one and wanted to swap it for the right one… to help counteract (along with some Benadryl) the allergic reaction. They said they couldn’t ‘swap’ it and couldn’t sell me more because of this stupid law!!! I thought this law was supposed to protect us… I could have died!!!!!

Comment by SC on 2012-08-02 02:20:26 -0700 #

I know if you buy it at Walgreens here and then go to CVS, they tell you that you can’t buy it because you already did.

Comment by Tammie Mills on 2013-05-20 10:56:55 -0700 #

My autistic daughter and I both suffer from severe allergies, and the only thing that helps is Sudafed. We’ve tried everything else. I buy the meager allotment every month in Colorado for her. She suffers only 10 days out of the month, as the limit allows enough for one person for 20 days. I don’t take it so that my daughter can have it. My nose stays cracked open and bleeding in several places from the constant post-nasal drip, and I have to sleep with my head propped up. Your rant doesn’t fix that, but it does make my soul feel a little better. Keep ranting, I love it.

Comment by hexxuss on 2013-08-01 10:45:11 -0700 #

I went to buy my usual box of Primatine Mist tablets (yes, I know, they’re bad for my asthma, don’t really do much to fix the issue blah blah blah – they’re a LOT cheaper than my prescription meds & keep me from having to puff 6x a day on my $350 inhaler!). I was told I was over the limit (which was bull). So my boyfriend used HIS I.D. – HIS was denied saying it was over the limit. The pharmacist broad tried HER I.D. (she said she can’t remember the last time she bought any), and HERS was denied for the same reason. Since CVS & every other drug store is on the same database, if I wouldn’t have had 2 more tablets, I’d be in the ER right now. I found out my inhaler says 9 puffs are left… nope, there’s ZERO. So REALLY nice that these laws affect people who actually USE this stuff how it’s intended to be used, but the criminals are still carrying on….

Comment by MyaVT on 2017-03-22 05:53:37 -0700 #

As the police drove away with my husband yesterday, I discovered it is a crime to ASK for a 3rd box of Sudafed from your Pharmacy in a 30-day period. It’s considered “attempting to purchase an illegal substance.”

We are so naive in this respect . My husband and I have never had a negative interaction with the police. They were cynical, judgmental and bored with the situation (I don’t blame considering what they deal with 24/7). Meanwhile, it was devastating and terrifying to US!

My husband had a brain tumor behind his sinuses/eyes. The pressure screwed up his sinuses. He was having excruciating headaches from “pressure” in his head as well. The Sudafed was all that would help. He took it for only 2 months because it wound up making the seizures from his tumor worse.

So, it was back in December 2016 that my husband tried to purchase that one extra box of Sudafed. The cops showed up to arrest him YESTERDAY, March 21, 2017?

Yup. We sure were PARTYING with that DECONGESTANT! Freaked out!

Comment by dallan on 2018-01-25 18:33:43 -0800 #

if u buy a 20 count box and u dont buy the stuff every monthand the box gets left in the car u were riding in how long do u have 2 wait to buy the 2nd box that makes ur monthly limit