Posted on 12/30/2004 12:32:37 PM PST by Earl B.
Okay, so I call in sick yesterday because I woke up feeling awful. Stuffy/runny nose. Muscle aches, fever, chills, headache. I took a couple of Advil, but still don't feel well enough to drive an hour to the office.
Later, in the afternoon, I feel well enough to go to the drugstore to get some cold medicine. Pop into Rite-Aid and grab a box of Drixoral (which works very well for my congestion/sinus issues). I also grab a couple of boxes of Triaminic Soft-Chews, because my son is very congested too and they work well for him.
When I get to the register, the computer flags my purchase somehow, and the cashier informs me that I can't buy all three items. Huh? It really wasn't registering with me. In my weakened state, I thought that I didn't have enough cash, or my card was being rejected. But I hadn't tendered any cash or attempted to use my card, so how could the cashier know what I could afford? I asked for a clarification.
The cashier told me that I could by any two of the items I wanted, but not all three. Why? Federal Law. Federal Law dictates how mcuh cold medicine I can buy for me and my family? I ask to speak to a manager.
Manager confirms - they can't sell me all three items. Apparently the active ingredient in my chosen medicines (Pseudoephedrine HCL) can be used to manufacture methamphetamine or some such. So Federal law limits how much I can buy.
Flabbergasted and defeated, I buy the Drixoral and ONE box of Triaminic. I took my purchases to my car, then walked into the grocery store next to Rite-Aid and bought another Triaminic.
Another glorious battle in the nation's War on Drugs.
I prefer peach brandy.
"I have no knowledge and therefore should stay out of this, but...I wonder if it's store policy rather than law?"
Not store policy.
This is your DEA at work.
Last year I was purchasing some beer at a Safeway and the cashier pointed out that my driver's license had expired two days before (I was going to go to the DMV later in the week when I had time). Thinking she was just trying to be helpful I thanked her for telling me. Unfortunately, she went on to say she couldn't sell me the beer. I thought that was a little odd because that didn't change the status of my birth date. I tried to inquire, in a calm, non-confrontational way whether it was the law of the land or store policy, but she got all defensive and just kept barking, "Sir, I cannot sell you alcohol." Anyways, the gas station outside had no problem selling me the beer...
We have a large family, and we had a family cold recently. I bought some Walgreen version sudafed for adults and some for the lil' children. A few days later I had to buy more. I don't know what the law is here, but I would have been very ticked-off if I were unable to buy the stuff. I wonder if they allow you to buy it if you have 5 prescriptions for the stuff.
Consideration of driver home county prohibition and alcohol-related vehicle crashes.
Schulte Gary SL, Aultman-Hall L, McCourt M, Stamatiadis N.
Jordon Jones and Goulding, 870 Corporate Drive Suite 104, Lexington, KY 40503, USA. sgary@jmt-engineering.com
This study examines the characteristics of alcohol-related crashes in wet versus dry counties in the state of Kentucky, USA and incorporates the location of driver residences through use of geographic information system (GIS) analysis. Between 1991 and 1997, 39344 alcohol-related crashes by Kentucky residents on Kentucky State roads were reported. The location of the crash and the home ZIP code from the driver's address were used to consider distance from home in the GIS. Analysis of the crash data revealed that a similar proportion of crashes in wet and dry counties are alcohol-related but that a higher proportion of dry counties residents are involved in an alcohol-related crash. However, when the distance from home variable is considered, several results suggest that dry county residents may be driving further when consuming alcohol.
Lemon juice, honey, and bourbon here. I still use it sometimes.
I just called CVS and they still carry Coke syrup. Wish I would have had this conversation a week ago. Hahahaha
--my boss told me about it about thirty five years ago--my older daughter still remembers--
Retail Thresholds
The Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act (MAPA) limits the thresholds of pseudoephedrine drug products to 9 gram single transactions with the package size not to exceed 3 grams.
Nine (9) gram single transactions Three (3) gram per package
• 120 mg. Pseudoephedrine HCL = 92 tablets • 120 mg. Pseudoephedrine HCL = 31 tablets
• 60 mg. Pseudoephedrine HCL = 184 tablets • 60 mg. Pseudoephedrine HCL = 62 tablets
• 30 mg. Pseudoephedrine HCL = 367 tablets • 30 mg. Pseudoephedrine HCL = 123 tablets
Interesting, I must get some. Thanks for the tip.
Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are chemicals widely used in over-the-counter medications, primarily for cold relief. Ephedrine is used for the temporary relief of shortness of breath and wheezing due to bronchial asthma.
They are easily accessible at pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores and other markets.
Illicit drug dealers are shipping chemicals from Los Angeles and other areas to make methamphetamine in San Diego, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Birkmeyer.
"We have a lot of criminal organizations involved in meth distribution who are coordinating with Mexican nationals," Birkmeyer said.
--another good reason for Justice Thomas to be promoted--
Whew, I thanked the kid. "You saved me a trip!"
I had a similar thing happen at Rite-Aid the other day (in WA state) and the clerk just let me ring up two consecutive purchases (In fact, she suggested it). But beyond the purchase, you have to be extremely careful not to exceed a safe dosage of Pseudoephedrine when it is combined from different products. Like you, I was buying for multiple family members so they weren't combining. But in the past, I had an episode of racing heartbeat (tachycardia) and hypertension from just the recommended dose over several days, and a death in my family is thought to have been related to long-term use of cold medicine at the usual dose, so we are extremely careful now, and only take it for a day or two.
It's the "control" mentality. When I was in fifth grade, somebody took a whizz on the steam radiator in the boys' bathroom. All the boys were kept after school as punishment, or at least to grill us as to who the culprit might have been. I have a guess, but no proof. But then that was a loooong time ago. :) Knowing him though, if it was him, he's probably still whizzing in inappropriate ways. :)
Buckley's Mixture, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide Cough Suppressant
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:EbqUsehSMakJ:www.drugstore.com/qxp55285_333181_sespider/buckleys/mixture_dextromethorphan_hydrobromide_cough_suppressant.htm+Buckley%27s+mixture&hl=en
And it won't.
What it has done is open up a market for smuggled ephedrine and psuedoephedrine from Mexico and other countries.
Another stupid knee jerk reaction from our government.
I like to point out that heroin is cheaper and more pure than ever on the street to all the WOD believers.
This is from the DEA's own statistics.
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