Signed by Governor Steve Beshear

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that limits the amount of over-the-counter allergy and cold medication that may be purchased without a prescription.

Highlights:

• Reduces the quantities of allergy or cold medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine that may be purchased without a prescription from 9 grams to 7.2 grams per month (Sec. 1).

• Establishes an annual limit of 24 grams of allergy or cold medicine  containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine that may be purchased without a prescription, whereas existing law did not specify an annual limit (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits individuals under the age of 18 from purchasing any quantity of allergy or cold medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine without a prescription (Sec. 1).

• Requires pharmacies to maintain an electronic record-keeping system that will allow the pharmacy to prohibit transactions in excess of the limits established by this bill, and provide the Office of Drug Control with unimpeded access to records for statistical analysis purposes (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Office of Drug Control to submit annual statistical reports on the sale of compounds, mixtures, or preparations containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine to the Legislative Research Commission (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits individuals convicted of any offense relating to methamphetamine from possessing or attempting to possess medication containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine until 5 years after the following dates (Sec. 2):
• The date the individual was convicted;
• The date the individual was discharged from incarceration; or
• The date the individual was released from probation or parole.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits the amount of over-the-counter allergy and cold medication that may be purchased without a prescription.

Highlights:

• Reduces the quantities of allergy or cold medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine that may be purchased without a prescription from 9 grams to 7.2 grams per month (Sec. 1).

• Establishes an annual limit of 24 grams of allergy or cold medicine  containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine that may be purchased without a prescription, whereas existing law did not specify an annual limit (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits individuals under the age of 18 from purchasing any quantity of allergy or cold medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine without a prescription (Sec. 1).

• Requires pharmacies to maintain an electronic record-keeping system that will allow the pharmacy to prohibit transactions in excess of the limits established by this bill, and provide the Office of Drug Control with unimpeded access to records for statistical analysis purposes (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Office of Drug Control to submit annual statistical reports on the sale of compounds, mixtures, or preparations containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine to the Legislative Research Commission (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits individuals convicted of any offense relating to methamphetamine from possessing or attempting to possess medication containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine until 5 years after the following dates (Sec. 2):
• The date the individual was convicted;
• The date the individual was discharged from incarceration; or
• The date the individual was released from probation or parole.

Full Bill Text