As Congress works to crack down on methamphetamine ingredients, mammoth retailer Wal-Mart is a driving force for a national law that supersedes – and potentially weakens – tough state laws such as Iowa’s …
(from the Des Moines Register)
Like many other midwestern states, Iowa recently passed a law restricting sales of the decongestant pseudoepehedrine, which is also a precursor of methamphetamine. The new law has been very effective, with a 75% drop in meth lab seizures since it was passed. However, Walmart has thrown its weight behind efforts to pass a weaker federal law that would also preempt any state regulations.
Iowa Senator Grassley is so angry at the changes that he has withdrawn as a sponsor of the law. The law’s two primary sponsors are Jim Talent (R-MO) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
Unfortunately, this type of naked corporate power grab is typical of the current Congress. Where are the law and order, states-rights Republicans on this issue? At least Grassley (R-IA) had the courage to do what’s right.
in Northern Idaho. Oregon and Washington passed these meth lab prevention laws. Now all the scumbags are scurrying like the roaches they are into Idaho since our legislators can’t get their acts together to pass a similar law. So this area has a serious meth problem.
Just seeing the name Walmart is like a red flag to me…and as usual this ‘family values’ company shows it’s true colors-money over a bill that can actually be of enormous help on the ‘drug war’. But they banned Willie Nelson’s new cd until the cover art(cover had what looked suspiciously like a marijuana plant-oh the horrors) was changed just for Walmart stores if I have my story right on this.
I had a room mate who cracked open Vick’s Inhalers, chopped the cotton wad strip inside into tiny cubes, wrapped them in caramel and friggin’ ate them! She’d speed around for a couple of sleepless days just on one cube. I guess the point I’m making is that people will get zonked on whatever is available and there will never be enough laws to stop them.
I wonder why WalMart is opposed to regulating decongestant sales. Don’t they have lots of other stuff to sell? Who would have thought Vick’s Inhalers were such a large part of their profit margin?
Cool…I’m trying that tonight.