INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana lawmakers have passed two bills that would give legal cover to pharmacists to prevent methamphetamine cooks from buying pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in the illegal drug.
A House bill would let pharmacists ask for a prescription from suspicious customers, while a Senate plan would allow them to deny the sales completely. Legislators approved them Wednesday.
Indiana has led the nation in meth lab seizures for the last three years. In response, House Speaker Brian Bosma said tackling the issue was a personal priority for him this session and he expected something from lawmakers this year.
Lawmakers are also working on bills to enhance a system that tracks pseudoephedrine sales to ban drug offenders from buying the medicine without a prescription.