This Meth Bill Isn’t What The TBI Wanted, But It Just Might Pass

House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick said Wednesday he doubts the governor’s initial proposal targeting meth would have enough votes to pass on the House floor. (Photo via flickr / Gov. Bill Haslam’s photostream)

State lawmakers congratulated each other Wednesday on a compromise to limit the sale of cold medicine used to make meth.

The bill is not as tough as Governor Bill Haslam’s previous proposal—itself derided by some as a half-measure.

Hours earlier, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director Mark Gwyn had told senators the meth problem is “drowning” police, pointing to problems like cleaning up toxic labs, as well as gangs:

“We’re seeing gangs getting involved.  I’m seeing in smaller counties in west Tennessee where crack-cocaine was the drug of preference, now they’re looking at meth, and why shouldn’t they?”

Gwyn has made no secret he’d like to clamp down on meth by requiring a prescription for pseudoephedrine.

But when the House Criminal Justice committee met down the hall, some representatives wanted promises such a requirement would not happen.  G.A. Hardaway said it would hurt legitimate allergy sufferers.

“How do I pay for the doctor’s visit, how do I pay for a prescription, how do I make it happen, or do I just suffer, do I let my children suffer?”

Instead, the bill that advanced Wednesday would let people buy twice as much pseudoephedrine a year as the governor had proposed earlier—which was already several weeks’ worth, without a prescription.

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The deal came after weeks of sometimes heated wrangling involving Rep. Tony Shipley and House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, who was tasked with carrying the governor’s bill.  When the compromise emerged in committee Wednesday, Shipley told McCormick, “Leader, I want to give you a hug.”

McCormick told members “I think we’re doing good work here, and just for the record, I want everybody to know that I do like Tony Shipley.  I do like him.”

After the bill moved forward, the state safety commissioner was asked if he was surprised it’s being watered down; he would only reply the matter was heavily lobbied.  Pharmaceutical companies have fought to make sure their product is widely available.