8 December 2004

Methamphetamine Task Force Leaders Convene
Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Working Together to fight Kansas drug problem

On Friday, December 3, co-chairs Colonel Bill Seck of the Kansas Highway Patrol and Director Larry Welch of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation had their first meeting to organize the task force charged by Governor Kathleen Sebelius and the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council with identifying how best to address the methamphetamine and other illegal drug problems in Kansas. Possible task force membership was discussed as well as a structure for obtaining results.

Identified as a top priority of Governor Sebelius and Attorney General Phill Kline, this task force will first focus on methamphetamine. A history of efforts made in Kansas to fight methamphetamine addiction and manufacturing is being compiled to ensure there is no duplication of previous efforts. Co-chairs Seck and Welch hope to organize a statewide summit in the spring to bring together the many parts of society impacted by this drug: law enforcement, treatment professionals, educators, legislators, medical communities, child advocates, as well as the public. Regional hearings will be held in 2005 for input from those unable to attend the Summit in Topeka to ensure an accurate understanding of the problems faced by those dealing with meth, then incorporating into findings and recommendations of the task force. Additional ideas will be developed by the task force throughout this process.

A Midwestern state has already realized the benefits of one solution. Through recent legislation, Oklahoma cut their number of meth labs in half by restricting some forms of precursor cold medications. Colonel Seck and Director Welch are sending representatives from their agencies to a Regional Methamphetamine Legislative Conference this Friday in St. Louis to evaluate the Oklahoma program.

If Kansas were to follow Oklahoma’s lead, a change in current law would allow stores to continue to sell liquid or gel cap forms of ephedrine or psuedoephedrine but would restrict tablet form necessary for meth production. Tablets would be available without prescription through licensed pharmacies but would require consumers to show a photo ID and sign for the drug.

“We know the Oklahoma law is working,” said Dir. Welch, “and not just from the fact that they report cutting their lab seizures in half. Law enforcement agencies along the border are reporting a flood of Oklahomans coming over to buy the precursors.”

Colonel Seck added, “Cutting the meth labs in half would save millions of taxpayer dollars, some of which could be used to help treatment, education and enforcement efforts.” He continued, “This task force will work to identify communities in need of additional resources to fight meth and illegal drugs.”

Once legislation is complete it will be presented to the Kansas Legislature this session.

When the full Governor’s task force is convened, meetings will be open to the public, unless confidential matters require otherwise.