Brief Description: Restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine to licensed pharmacists.

Sponsors: Representatives Campbell, Morrell, McCune, Lovick, Sells, Wallace and Ormsby.

Hearing Date: 2/18/05

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

Precursor drugs are substances that can be used to manufacture controlled substances. Ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine are common precursor items that are often used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance that affects the central nervous system.

In Washington, only pharmacies, authorized health care practitioners, and registered shopkeepers and itinerant vendors may sell products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine to consumers. They may not sell more than three packages of these products in a single transaction or a single product containing more than three grams of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine.

Manufacturers and wholesalers that sell a precursor substance in a suspicious transaction must report the transaction to the Board of Pharmacy. Shopkeepers and itinerant vendors who purchase ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine in a suspicious transaction must maintain inventory records of their nonprescription drugs and are limited in the amount of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine that they may sell in proportion to their nonprescription drug sales.

Summary of Bill:

Products containing any quantity of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine may only be dispensed, sold, or distributed at retail by a licensed pharmacist, physician, dentist, veterinarian, nurse, or other person authorized to prescribe drugs. The authority of registered shopkeepers and itinerant vendors to purchase ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine is eliminated.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.