Homeland Security claims its Real ID could help shut down meth labs

[flashl]

DHS: Real ID could help shut down meth labs

Could a Real ID-compliant license be required in the future to buy certain over-the-counter medicines at your local drugstore?

A top Homeland Security official indicated Wednesday that the answer may be yes.

In a presentation aimed at promoting the final identification requirements released Friday, Stewart Baker, the Homeland Security Department's assistant secretary for policy, suggested the controversial system could help federal agents combat methamphetamine production and abuse in the United States.

Baker cited a 2005 federal law, which requires pharmacies to keep tabs on how often people buy certain drugs, such as cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, that can be used to concoct the drug. The key to that process, naturally, is verifying the customer's identity through some sort of document.

Under the final Real ID rule, starting on May 11 (unless states request waivers, which many are expected to do), Americans will be expected to present compliant licenses for "federal purposes," which have so far focused on boarding a commercial aircraft and entering a federal building or nuclear facility. If granted extensions, states will have until 2017 to begin issuing the cards to all their residents.

CNET

[yardwork]

1. and stopping meth production is definitely the biggest problem we face. Not.

Sounds like fascism to me.

[flashl]

3. 'war' on drugs is a knee jerker. n/t

[Ian David]

9. Shouldn't we win The War to Save Baseball, first? n/t

[flashl]

11. Glad you mention Baseball. They have a plan

Baseball chief invites stiffer online-pharmacy laws

In the lingering fallout from a damning report on steroid use by Major League Baseball players, the sport's top executive is calling on Congress to help in leading a crackdown on Internet pharmacies.

[Ian David]

12. Oh, so because of a handful of spoiled millionaires, they're gonna crack down on senior citizens?

Good!

About time Granny got what's comin' to her!


I've fallen... and I can't buy my drugs from Canada anymore!

[flashl]

13. The decision explains the MLB show in Congress this week. n/t

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. Yeah, right and babies will stop being born naked.

[okoboji]

4. ok .. I'm confused

I thought the meth was coming from Mexico and we had to protect our southern border?


which is it?

Mexico? or People faking colds?

[yardwork]

6. Nevermind. Just sign right here and stop asking questions.

[flashl]

7. the drivers license ploy must not be selling. n/t

[pleah]

5. Methies, the new turists.

[Ian David]

8. Shut down meth labs? Now the Repukes are messing with their base. n/t

[jedr]

10. LOL...that was great! n/t

[Horse with no Name]

14. So how does this stop smurfing?

Determined drug users are finding loopholes in new laws designed to combat meth, and they're calling it smurfing. Doctor Tracy Wimbush has more on smurfing

Smurfing, it's the new street term meth makers are using to describe shopping from store to store, buying small quantities of pseudoephedrine until they have enough to manufacture the meth.

Congress and 39 states including Texas and Oklahoma have passed laws restricting the sale of cold medications containing pseudoephedrine. The laws limit the amount of medicine that individuals can buy and require a pharmacist to check i.d and keep records of pseudoephrine purchases. But you may be suprised at what happens with those purchase records.

Pharmacist Jana Bennett said, "Nothing, it just stays here. I guess techniquely if the DEA ever wanted to come check who has been buying all of it they could come see our records. But it doesn't go into any bid database. It just stays right here."
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=5072593

[flashl]

15. Good point. IMO, the real objective is to create a sense of urgency

and need for Real ID.

[mtnester]

16. Jeezuz...when I had a crappy cold a fews years ago

I had to go through more hassle to buy ONE...ONE package of cold medicine that contained Ephedrine (or whatever it is called) than I do to GET a damn drivers license! I had to SHOW my DL...sign a couple pieces of paper, and provide a reason for my purchase (hey, here is a reason...achoo!)

WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS DOUCHEBAG TALKING ABOUT? I CAN BUY A GUN EASIER THAT I CAN COLD MEDICINE IN MY STATE...WHAT A STUPID STUPID ASSHOLE!

Calm down girl...breath

OK...anyone have any chocolate? hmmm?

[fed-up]

17. if you ever end up in a former nondisclosed meth lab you would have wished they had put

the limits on sudafed earlier.

Apparently the little store two blocks down the street was selling boxes of the shit at a time to meth cooks, one of which happened to use the property I bought for his meth lab.

I have no money for an attorney to rescind the contract and get out of this toxic, worthless hell hole.

Meth lab busts have decreased significantly in my county which was number one per capita a few years ago. Partially due to the limits on purchasing sudafed and I believe partially because the cops are too busy busting pot growers.

edited to fix typoes

[flashl]

19. Reduction in federal police grants and just issuing Real ID cards

will not address the prooblem you described.

[fed-up]

21. I never said it would, I only addressed limits on buying sudafed-EPA and Public Health

and the local sheriff are responsible for not testing, red-tagging and putting a lien on all the former meth labs. Not to mention legislators for failing to make any laws protecting buyers and renters, any laws passed were delayed by the National Association of Realtors.

[flashl]

22. No, I didn't suggest that it would. Just saying that

the reduction in federal grants to the local police would probably better serve that neighborhood.

[flashl]

18. Feel better? Gourmet

[mtnester]

20. Dark dark dark DARK chocolate

I admit, I am a snob

and thanks...I get tired sometimes of the subterfuge that is used to get us to compliantly give up our rights day by day....it scares me a bit (a bit hell...a lot)

[KatyaR]

24. A friend of mine was sick at the same time her baby daughter was.

She drug herself out of the house to get some cold medicine. The pharmacy wouldn't allow her to buy medicine for both her and her daughter because 2 boxes exceeded the limit. She had to go home and have her husband go back and buy some for the baby.

I don't think this is a totally bad law, but it can be a pain in the ass when you're sick.

[spanone]

23. fuck off homeland security

[WinkyDink]

25. While over in Afghanistan, there are record poppy yields.