ESHB 2266 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
ADOPTED 04/13/2005
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 Restricting access to certain precursor
drugs used to manufacture methamphetamine to ensure that they are only
sold at retail to individuals who will use them for legitimate purposes
upon production of proper identification is an essential step to
controlling the manufacture of methamphetamine.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 69.43 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) Any product containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or
phenylpropanolamine, or their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers as
its only active ingredient, sold at retail shall be sold only by a
pharmacy licensed by, or shopkeeper or itinerant vendor registered
with, the department of health under chapter 18.64 RCW, or an employee
thereof, or a practitioner as defined in RCW 18.64.011. A pharmacy
licensed by, or shopkeeper or itinerant vendor registered with, the
department of health under chapter 18.64 RCW, or an employee thereof,
or a practitioner as defined in RCW 18.64.011 may only sell products
containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, or their
salts, isomers, or salts of isomers as its only active ingredient to
customers that are at least eighteen years old, upon presentation of
photographic identification that shows the date of birth of the person.
The products must be kept in a location that is not accessible by
customers without the assistance of an employee of the merchant.
(2) A person buying or receiving a product at retail containing
ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, or their salts,
isomers, or salts of isomers as its only active ingredient, from a
pharmacy licensed by, or shopkeeper or itinerant vendor registered
with, the department of health under chapter 18.64 RCW, or an employee
thereof, or a practitioner as defined in RCW 18.64.011, must be at
least eighteen years old and must first produce photographic
identification of the person that shows the date of birth of the
person.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 69.43 RCW
to read as follows:
(1)(a) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs or
the Washington state patrol may petition the state board of pharmacy to
establish restrictions for one or more products containing any amount
of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, or their salts,
isomers, or salts of isomers, in combination with another active
ingredient. The petition shall establish that:
(i) Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine can be
effectively extracted from the product and converted into
methamphetamine or another controlled dangerous substance; and
(ii) Law enforcement, the Washington state patrol, or the
department of ecology are finding substantial evidence that the product
is being used for the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine or another
controlled dangerous substance.
(b) The state board of pharmacy shall adopt rules when a petition
establishes that restricting the sale of the product at retail is
warranted based upon the effectiveness and extent of use of the product
for the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine or other controlled
dangerous substances and the extent of the burden of any restrictions
upon consumers. The state board of pharmacy may adopt such
restrictions as are warranted to prevent access to the product for use
for the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine or another controlled
dangerous substance, including the presentation of photographic
identification and accessibility requirements. The state board of
pharmacy may adopt emergency rules to restrict the sale of a product
when the petition establishes that the immediate restriction of the
product is necessary in order to protect public health and safety.
(c) A manufacturer of a drug product may apply for removal of the
product from this section if the product is determined by the state
board of pharmacy to have been formulated in such a way as to
effectively prevent the conversion of the active ingredient into
methamphetamine. The burden of proof for exemption is upon the person
requesting the exemption. The petitioner shall provide the state board
of pharmacy with evidence that the product has been formulated in such
a way as to serve as an effective general deterrent to the conversion
of pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine. The evidence must include the
furnishing of a valid scientific study, conducted by an independent,
professional laboratory and evincing professional quality chemical
analysis. Factors to be considered in whether a product should be
excluded from this section include but are not limited to:
(i) Ease with which the product can be converted to
methamphetamine;
(ii) Ease with which pseudoephedrine is extracted from the
substance and whether it forms an emulsion, salt, or other form;
(iii) Whether the product contains a "molecular lock" that renders
it incapable of being converted into methamphetamine;
(iv) Presence of other ingredients that render the product less
likely to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine; and
(v) Any pertinent data that can be used to determine the risk of
the substance being used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine
or any other controlled substance.
(2) Nothing in this section applies:
(a) To the sale of a product that may only be sold upon the
presentation of a prescription; or
(b) When the details of the transaction are recorded in a pharmacy
profile individually identified with the recipient and maintained by a
licensed pharmacy or registered shopkeeper or itinerant vendor.
(3)(a) No pharmacy licensed by, or shopkeeper or itinerant vendor
registered with, the department of health under chapter 18.64 RCW, or
a practitioner as defined in RCW 18.64.011, may retaliate against any
employee that has made a good faith attempt to comply with any
requirement that the state board of pharmacy may impose under
subsection (1) of this section.
(b) No pharmacy licensed by, or shopkeeper or itinerant vendor
registered with, the department of health under chapter 18.64 RCW, or
a practitioner as defined in RCW 18.64.011, is subject to prosecution
under subsection (4) of this section if they made a good faith attempt
to comply with any requirement that the state board of pharmacy may
impose under subsection (1) of this section.
(4) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor."
ESHB 2266 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
ADOPTED 04/13/2005
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "phenylpropanolamine;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "adding new sections to chapter 69.43 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties."
EFFECT: Removes identification, log, accessibility, and age requirements on the sale of products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine in combination with another active ingredient. Authorizes the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs or the Washington State Patrol to petition the Board of Pharmacy to place restrictions on products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine in combination with another active ingredient when there is evidence of their use for the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine or another dangerous controlled substance. Permits the Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules to restrict products upon petition of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Establishes criteria to remove restrictions from products.