New law limits purchase of allergy medicines

Starting Thursday, nearly 150 new laws in Kentucky take effect.

Governor Steve Beshear signed the bills earlier this year. They range from allowing tax incentives to create new jobs and cracking down on copper thefts. Also included, new laws about cold and allergy medicines.

The new law means there will now be a limit a to how many cold and allergy medicines consumers can buy at a time. This includes drugs like Claritin-D and Sudafed.

As of Thursday, consumers can buy only two packages per month, and will need to electronically enter their identity. The information will be used in a multi-state tracking system designed to monitor possible misuse of these products.

The bill is designed to crackdown on methamphetamine manufacturers. The ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine found in certain cold and allergy medications are often used to make meth. Those behind the new law think it will crack down on the state-wide production of methamphetamine.

Opponent says the new bill targets the wrong people and will impact those that rely on certain allergy relief products.

Much cooler conditions behind the front