JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri House has endorsed legislation reducing the amount of a popular decongestant consumers can buy each month. The medication is a key ingredient in methamphetamine.

Pseudoephedrine is found in many cold and allergy remedies that Missouri retailers are now required to keep behind the counter. The retailers also must keep records of every purchase and buyer.

Missouri now caps individual purchases of medicines containing pseudoephedrine at 9 grams every 30 days. The legislation given first-round approval Tuesday would reduce that to 7.5 grams.

People with convictions for felony drug crimes would need prescriptions to buy pseudoephedrine.

Proponents argue further restricting purchases of pseudoephedrine is an alternative to making it a prescription drug, although several Missouri communities already have done so with local ordinances.

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Pseudoephedrine limits is HB218

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov