Washington, MO ( KPLR ) -
"The State of Missouri tried this year it couldn't do it," says Sgt. Jason Grellner of the Franklin County Narcotics Unit, "the State of Indiana tried they didn't get it done other states have tried," and where all of them have failed...success in small town Washington, Missouri.
"If you know the hazards those meth labs present you would do anything to get this problem resolved. and that anything for the Washington Mayor Dick Stratman and a majority of the City Council was making a prescription necessary to buy Pseudoephedrine at pharmacies within city limits. The measure goes beyond a state law that limits the amounts of the drug that can be bought and forces buyers to register. While a 6-2 majority of the city council agreed, the mayor knows some sudafed users won't.
"It does create an inconvenience but you have to balance whats the postiive," and the Mayor and Franklin County's top drug cop agree that positive is pushing meth making out of the city and county.
"This is that one chemical that nobody can get their hands on unless they go to the pharmacy," says Grellner, "and when you control that you control meth manufacturing."
With only seven pharmacies in Washington, completely controlling the problem is impossible cooks can and will go elsewhere...the goal is to keep working on that elsewhere.
"This is one step in a whole lot of steps," says Grellner, "if we can't get enough city across the state on board we can finally let the legislature know that this is what the state wants to do."
"If you know the hazards those meth labs present you would do anything to get this problem resolved. and that anything for the Washington Mayor Dick Stratman and a majority of the City Council was making a prescription necessary to buy Pseudoephedrine at pharmacies within city limits. The measure goes beyond a state law that limits the amounts of the drug that can be bought and forces buyers to register. While a 6-2 majority of the city council agreed, the mayor knows some sudafed users won't.
"It does create an inconvenience but you have to balance whats the postiive," and the Mayor and Franklin County's top drug cop agree that positive is pushing meth making out of the city and county.
"This is that one chemical that nobody can get their hands on unless they go to the pharmacy," says Grellner, "and when you control that you control meth manufacturing."
With only seven pharmacies in Washington, completely controlling the problem is impossible cooks can and will go elsewhere...the goal is to keep working on that elsewhere.
"This is one step in a whole lot of steps," says Grellner, "if we can't get enough city across the state on board we can finally let the legislature know that this is what the state wants to do."
