Pharmacist discretion bill heads to governor's desk

A bill to allow pharmacists to serve as gatekeepers for cold medicines that contain the common methamphetamine ingredient pseudoephedrine is on its way to the Gov. Mike Pence for consideration.

After a long battle between law enforcement organizations and pharmaceutical manufacturers, the Senate voted 41-7 in favor of the measure Thursday.

Under the bill, people who regularly visit pharmacies would not be affected. New customers could still buy a limited dosage of pseudoephedrine or could obtain a prescription to get a larger dosage. The state would also track pseudoephedrine sales that come from those prescriptions.

Bill author Republican Sen. Randy Head of Logansport says a related bill will still need to tweak some of the details of the tracking system.