The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on March 9, 2006 to regulate over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine, which are chemicals used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine. The law required pharmacies to keep these medications behind the counter, record sales, and limit monthly purchases. Its goal was to curb the meth epidemic in the United States by controlling access to the drug precursors while still allowing legal access to medicines for consumers.

1. Law and Ethics Class
Angela Busbee
December 9, 2014

2.  Law: The Combat Methamphetamine
Epidemic Act of 2005
 Signed into law: March 9, 2006
by President George W. Bush
 Law effective: September 30, 2006
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/03/images/20060309-4_d-0213-515h.html

3.  Why enacted: To regulate over-the-counter
sales of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and
phenylpropanolamine used illegally to make
methamphetamine or amphetamine.
 December 22, 2005: The FDA removed
phenylpropanolamine from the market due to
an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Only
sold by prescription for animal use.

4.  Amphetamine and methamphetamine are
dangerous and highly addictive drugs that are
made and used.
 Common names used for the drug: “meth”,
“crystal”, “crank”, and “ice”
 Methamphetamine can be made illegally from
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
 Amphetamine can be illegally made from
phenylpropanolamine.

5.  Was being manufactured in illegal labs and
homes in the United States
 Drug side effects: irritability, nervousness,
insomnia, nausea, depression, and brain
damage

6.  Pharmacies must:
 Keep OTC medications containing ingredients
pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and
phenylpropanolamine behind the counter or
in locked cabinets inaccessible from
customers until sale is made
 Maintain an electronic or written logbook
listing sales (identifying products by name,
quantity sold, names and addresses of
customers, & dates/times of sales

7.  Pharmacies must:
 Limits sales: any solid and liquid form of
ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and
phenylpropanolamine or combination to a
daily sales limit of 3.6 grams, & a monthly
purchase limit of 9 grams to the same
customer
 Retain customer purchase information for 2
years after sale

8.  To purchase customer must:
 Present valid photo id or acceptable
documentation
 Complete log book requirements for name,
address, date, time sale occurred, and
signature
 Confirm the entry for the name of the
medication and quantity sold are correct

9. 1887 Lazar
Edeleanu
in Germany
develops related
drug amphetamine
predecessor to
meth
1893 Meth Developed
by Japanese chemist, Nagayoshi
Nagai used ephedrine to synthesize
meth from Ephedra sinica, a plant
used in Ayurvedic and Chinese
medicine
1919 Akira Ogata
“discovered a new
method of synthesizing
the crystalline form of
the new stimulant,
giving the world crystal
meth”
http://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/NaJ/NaJ1210/nagai.html
http://thepoisondiaries.tumblr.com/post/3534
3648947/ephedra-sinica-a-plant-that-cures
Lazar Edeleanu. (n.d.). Retrieved from Humans And Alimentation,
Humans Mind: http://humansandalimentation.com/lazar-edeleanu/

10.  1986 1st attempt deter meth by DEA
number three agent Gene Haislip who
authors legislation that sellers of OTC
asthma & diet pills containing ephedrine &
manufacturers cold medicine keep sales
and import records
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/interviews/haislip.html

11.  1988 DEA and pharmaceutical industry reach
compromised deal & pass bill after 2 years.
Exempts any chemical (ephedrine &
pseudoephedrine)
 April – August 1995 Legislation approved in
1993 phased in requiring those selling
ephedrine pills be DEA registered, keep records
of sales, and report suspicious customers. Law
does not include pseudoephedrine pills.

12.  1) Made National restriction of pharmacies selling
ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and
phenylpropanolamine requiring them to be in
locked case or kept behind counter and limiting
amount customers can purchase in a day & month.
 2) Stronger penalties against smugglers, kingpins,
and meth cooks using federal property or
endangering children
 3) More government authority to monitor main
drug chemicals required to make from foreign
manufacturers & withhold aid if uncooperative

13.  4) Make main drug chemical importers &
exporters accountable if drugs are
redirected for illegally used
 5) Gave more funding to assistance
programs such as ones to help mothers or
drug-endangered children and drug courts
 6) Set manufacturer production & import
quotas of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine

14.  7) Agreement to support Mexico in effort to
curb methamphetamine production

15.  WWII Germany military used "flyer's
chocolate“ (chocolate with meth) or
"tanker's chocolate“ given to aircraft and
tank workers stay awake and increase
productivity
 1942 – 1945 Adolf Hitler used IV injections
for depression & fatigue. Historians believe
used treat Parkinson’s disease or symptoms
resembling those of Parkinson’s
Summary Adolf Hitler. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fold3.com:
http://www.fold3.com/page/83002428_adolf_hitler

16.  March 1994 US customs agent stumbles
upon 3.4 metric tons of ephedrine on plane
traveling from Switzerland to Mexico.
 DEA researches 18-month period and
realizes 170 tons ephedrine was smuggled
to US that could make 2 billion hits of meth

17.  Occurred in Juneau, Alaska
 Pharmacy records from local pharmacies of
individuals who purchased cold medication
for months was seized without warrant by law
enforcement.
 Attorney argues statute allowing this was
illegal, but prosecutors say no warrant was
necessary.

18.  Law enforcement looking for accomplices of
two men caught in Oct. 2012 warehouse
using plastic soda bottles to make meth
results in arrest of 5 residents of Juneau.
 Attorney of one defendant in pretrial argued
that his client’s privacy under federal & state
constitutions along with freedom from
warrantless searches and seizures was
violated.

19.  Attorney stated hundreds of individuals
information was taken without necessary
circumstances or suspicion for it.
 State dismissed charges against defendant
before judge ruled, but argument will be used
in one codefendant’s case.
 Law was written giving law enforcement
authority to request records at any time from
a store. If store does not provide records,
then they can be charged with a civil fine of
$10,000.

20.  Cells phones were seized and sent to Alaska
State Troopers and compared against store
medication logs.
 Defendant’s number was found on cell and
medication log showed defendant purchased
cold medication twice within 2 days causing
felony charges.
 DA dismissed charges against defendant
noting it was not related to argument on
search and seizure legality, but did not
explain their reasons on case.

21.  Two people in warehouse making meth
pleaded guilty to drug-related charges.
 Two codefendants were waiting on trial in
newspaper article.

22.  The End

23.  CMEA (Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act). (n.d.).
Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice. Drug
Enforcement Administration. Office of Diversion Control.:
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/meth/q_a_cmea.htm#
13
 Legal Requirements for the Sale and Purchase of Drug
Products Containing Pseudoephedrine, Ephedrine, and
Phenylpropanolamine. (2014 , 07 30). Retrieved from U.S.
Food and Drug Administration:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrug
Class/ucm072423.htm
 President Signs USA PATRIOT Improvement and
Reauthorization Act. (2006, 03). Retrieved from The WHITE
HOUSE PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: http://georgewbush-
whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/03/images/
20060309-4_d-0213-515h.html

24.  Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page. (2010, 9
03). Retrieved from U.S Food and Drug Administration:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrug
Class/ucm150738.htm
 The History of Crystal Meth. (2014, 11 28). Retrieved from
AddictionSearch the latest addiction Information:
http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_articles/articl
e/the-history-of-crystal-meth_58.html
 Lazar Edeleanu. (n.d.). Retrieved from Humans And
Alimentation, Humans Mind:
http://humansandalimentation.com/lazar-edeleanu/
 Nagayoshi Nagai (1845-1929). (2012, 10). Retrieved from
Botschaft von Japan in Deutschland: http://www.de.emb-
japan.go.jp/NaJ/NaJ1210/nagai.html

25.  Alnwick, D. L. (2014). EPHEDRA SINICA; A PLANT THAT CURES….
Retrieved from THE POISON DIARIES:
http://thepoisondiaries.tumblr.com/post/35343648947/ephedr
a-sinica-a-plant-that-cures
 Timeline. (2006, 03 22). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/etc/cron.html
 THE COMBAT METHAMPHETAMINE EPIDEMIC ACT OF 2005.
(2011, 05 16). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/etc/updnation
al.html
 Summary Adolf Hitler. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.fold3.com:
http://www.fold3.com/page/83002428_adolf_hitler/
 Miller, R. E. (2013, 05 16). Cases challenge legality of anti-
"smurfing" statute. Retrieved from JuneauEmpire.com:
http://juneauempire.com/local/2013-05-16/cases-challenge-
legality-anti-smurfing-statute

26.  CMEA (Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act). (n.d.). Retrieved from US.
Department of Justice. Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion
Control: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/meth/q_a_cmea.htm#2
 DEA has developed training materials regarding self-certification training -
Training Required to Sell. (n.d.). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice:
http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/licensing/combat_methamphetamine.pdf