Colorado Bill To Require Rx For Cold Medicines Rejected

DENVER (AP) -- Colorado lawmakers rejected a bill that would require prescriptions to buy common cold medicines like Sudafed in an attempt to block methamphetamine production.

A Senate panel voted 7-2 against the bill Thursday, citing concerns about increased costs and inconvenience to consumers and retailers. Bill sponsor Sen. Betty Boyd had argued that lawmakers should also weigh the costs methamphetamine has on society.

Boyd's bill sought to require prescriptions for drugs containing certain chemicals needed for meth production. Many of those products are already kept behind the counter and require a customer to ask for them, but this bill would further limit those drugs.

Oregon and Mississippi have already made those cold medicines prescription-only. A fiscal analysis prepared for Colorado lawmakers said the change could cost $275,000 a year in lost sales taxes.

by Ivan Moreno, Associated Press (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)