Anti-meth bill advances in State Senate

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- An Indiana Senate committee has backed tougher limits on quantities consumers may buy of cold medications that can be used to make methamphetamine.

The Senate's Criminal Law Committee voted 10-0 Tuesday in favor of the bill that would allow the purchase of up to 61 grams a year of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. That's about an eight-month total of the current law's monthly limit of 7.2 grams.

Some police groups have pushed for a state law requiring a doctor's prescription for those medicines, but the bill doesn't take that step.

Bill sponsor Republican Sen. Carlin Yoder of Middlebury says he believes people with allergies and occasional illnesses will still be able to buy enough medicine under the tighter limits.

The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.