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A.  The Louisiana Legislature recognizes the devastating effect methamphetamine production has had on its citizens.

B.  Methamphetamine is unique in that it is a synthetic drug which can be produced by someone who does not possess specialized skill or training, is highly addictive, and can be made from inexpensive readily accessible ingredients.

C.  Methamphetamine has been reported as one of the most addictive and deadly drug threats in the United States.  The use of methamphetamine can result in fatal kidney and lung disorders, brain damage, liver damage, chronic depression, psychosis, hallucinations, and many other devastating physical and mental effects.

D.  Louisiana has experienced a drop in methamphetamine production as restrictions on the sale of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine have been implemented.

E.  Methamphetamine is not only deadly because of the devastating effects of drug addiction, but the production of methamphetamine has resulted in several laboratory explosions and the exposure of our citizens to death, injury, or toxic substances.

F.  While the production of methamphetamine has resulted in devastating effects on Louisiana citizens, the drugs used in making methamphetamine: ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine have legitimate medical uses.

G.  The Legislature of Louisiana hereby finds and declares that a pharmacist is in the unique position of dispensing nonprescription products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine and interacting with the patient at the point of purchase of these products.  This relationship with the consumer and the pharmacists’ specialized knowledge about the pharmaceutical qualities of products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine make the pharmacy the best location for the sale of those products to ensure the health and safety of Louisiana’s citizens.

H.  The Louisiana Legislature, in enacting the provisions of this Part, seeks to provide for the legitimate medical needs of our citizens while at the same time protecting our citizens against the devastating effects of methamphetamines and methamphetamine production.

I.  In order to assist law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies in addressing the growing problems associated with methamphetamine production, a real time electronic database is needed to record purchases of products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine at a pharmacy.

J.  Technology is available to record all purchases of products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine at the point of sale and to transmit that information to a centralized  location to be monitored and maintained in a central computer monitoring system operated by the Louisiana State Police.

Acts 2009, No. 314, §1.