Anti-Meth Legislation Passes Senate
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June 2013) Legislation sponsored by Sen. David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) assisting law enforcement in combating the threat to public health and safety surrounding methamphetamine production passed the Senate in June.
The growing use and manufacture of the illegal and highly addictive drug methamphetamine is particularly pervasive in rural counties in Upstate New York.
A particular problem has been the purchase of precursor ingredients that can be found in medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine available over-the-counter in retail establishments.
While federal law regarding purchase limits for these products has been helpful to law enforcement when investigating persons suspected of manufacturing methamphetamine, at present no such provisions exist in state law, hampering local law enforcement and district attorneys’ efforts.
“Local law enforcement brought to my attention that meth producers were skirting the purchase limits in pharmacies and drugstores and asked if there was a legislative solution,” Valesky said. “This bill is intended to make it difficult for would-be producers to find the ingredients needed to make meth and, therefore, decrease production of the drug itself.”
Valesky’s legislation (S.4652) limits the over-the-counter sale to packages containing not more than 3.6 grams of one or more methamphetamine precursor drugs, not to exceed 9 grams within a 30-day period; requires the buyer to show photo identification and sign a written or electronic logbook; requires a retailer, before completing a sale, to electronically submit information to a real-time, stop-sale system administered by the division of state police, provided free of charge to retailers; and imposes a civil fine on retailers that knowingly ignore the stop sale alert.
Last year, federal authorities worked with local and state law enforcement in Central New York to charge 16 people with illegally purchasing cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine. Investigators were able to track the purchases by combing through paper log books. Valesky’s legislation would eliminate this time-consuming process by preventing the purchases and identifying those attempting to purchase illegal amounts in real time.
“This legislation will clearly hamper methamphetamine producers around the state,” said Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley. “The investigations surrounding meth production are very time-consuming, and the process of law enforcement chasing down and documenting purchases made by producers or their associates will be much more efficient. I commend Sen. Valesky for sponsoring such legislation that will greatly help law enforcement officials in combating the production of meth here in our county and across the state.”
Expanded Pride of New York Legislation Passes Senate
Legislation creating a program to recognize restaurants featuring local products promoting New York-grown products sponsored by Valesky also passed the Senate last month.
The legislation (S.2146) will build upon a statewide burgeoning “Buy Local” movement by enhancing the successful “Pride of New York” program, creating an additional designation for restaurants called “Dine: Pride of New York.”
“Statewide, and especially in Central New York, more and more consumers are looking for local products on restaurant menus,” Valesky said. “This legislation will create a statewide marketing opportunity for restaurants to let customers know they are cooking with or significantly featuring locally grown ingredients in their dishes.”
New York’s agricultural industry is a driving force in the state, accounting for $31.2 billion in farming and related agricultural activity annually. A report released by the Independent Democratic Conference in 2012 found that while direct sales between farmers and consumers have increased through the expansion of farmers’ markets, there is much room to grow.
“By expanding the Pride of New York program, we have the opportunity to strengthen the state’s agriculture industry, promote the local economy and make local, healthy foods we will help stimulate our local economies while strengthening the agriculture industry across the state,” he said.
According to Syracuse First, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote buying local products including food, with just a 10-percent shift in market share from national or global businesses to locally owned independents, $130 million in new economic activity would be generated in Onondaga County.
In addition, Madison County promotes a “Buy Local Week” each summer where local restaurants showcase menu items that contain products grown in the county itself.
Central New York is already seeing a growing effort to support local products. Many restaurants have adopted a local foods focus, promoting in their menus where the products were grown. At Empire Brewery in Syracuse, locally grown food is highlighted on the menu, where patrons are pointed to 56 different farms or producers that Empire uses.
In Valesky’s legislation, restaurants must demonstrate that 15 percent of their total ingredients are grown or processed in New York state in order to qualify for a Dine: Pride of New York designation.
Restaurants and food sellers that are designated would be allowed to use a logo to hang in their front windows and for advertising and marketing purposes. The businesses would also be listed in a directory on the state Agriculture and Markets website.