Law Enforcement Pleased With New Mississippi Drug Law

Ask Greene County Sheriff Kevin Fortinberry what one of his biggest problems is and he'll tell you it's the same as a lot of places in Mississippi -- meth.

“If you're making dope in Greene county, and I find out about it, I'm going to put you in jail,” says Fortinberry. Just this week, two men, 48 year-old Phillip Bond and 31-year-old Darrell Williams were arrested for allegedly running what's considered a small meth lab.

“Last year we found about 20 active labs in Greene county, and so far we've already recovered 3 or 4 active labs,” says the sheriff. Fortinberry applauds the state legislature for passing new rules on purchases of pseudoephedrine. Starting July first you'll need a doctor’s prescription. Officials can only hope the new law will help curb methamphetamine production in the state of Mississippi

The state of Oregon passed a similar measure four years ago. State officials there say it's had a dramatic effect on the meth trade.

“We would take down or have 500 meth lab incidents a year, last year we ended with 10,” says legal council for the Oregon Narcotics Enforcement Association Rob Bovett. Bovett says he's proud of the legislation and realizes people who use the cold meds for legit purposes have to sacrifice.

“You have to balance that sacrifice with the price that public safety is paying in your state drug endangered children are paying in your state,” says Bovett. Fortinberry says there will still be a person who crosses state lines for the cold medicine, but at least the law makes it tougher on meth addicts.