"Wouldn't that make their backers legally bullet-proof?"
ROTFL! It's called the pharmaceutical industry. Why do you think they're the only ones allowed to advertise controlled-substances on TV? They get to sell cocaine, opiates, amphetimines and all the other goodies. Manufacturers of ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine are making a killing by selling directly or indirectly to large-scale meth manufacturers south of the border. That's gotten a little attention from government, but only after quite a few people raised a BIG stink about it. The pharm lobby screams bloody-murder up on the hill every time someone cracks down on the scam.
More nonsense.