Kivela introduces bill to fight Meth production

LANSING – State Representative John Kivela (D-Marquette) has introduced House Bill 5088 as part of a bipartisan package of legislation aimed at battling methamphetamine production in Michigan. The bill would create a stop-sale notification through the existing National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) for any individual with a felony drug conviction trying to purchase a product containing pseudoephedrine (PSE). Those with prior felony drug convictions would be required to obtain a valid prescription from a physician to override the stop-sale notification, but the legislation would not change the process for individuals without felonies on record.

“This is common-sense legislation when it comes to stopping the production of illegal drugs,” said Kivela. “Creating the stop-sale notification would take the ease of purchasing methamphetamine’s key ingredient out of the hands of convicted felons.”

Along with HB 5088, HBs 5089 and 5090 were introduced by Reps. Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck) and Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), respectively. These bills work together to tackle what is called “smurfing” – an organized group purchase of PSE where all individuals buy only the daily, or 30-day, per-person limit, then combine the drug to make a larger quantity of methamphetamine.

“I greatly appreciate Rep. Kivela’s leadership on this issue,” said Genetski. “I am excited to work across the aisle and across Michigan’s two peninsulas to crack down on the surge of meth.”

Kivela, Nesbitt and Genetski worked together in a bipartisan fashion to create and co-sponsor these bills that will battle meth production around the state. After being introduced to the full House, the legislative package was sent to the House Criminal Justice Committee for consideration.

“It’s always an honor to work one-on-one with my colleagues when battling an issue as serious as the production of illegal drugs,” Kivela said. “If passed, this package of legislation will do a lot of good for our state.”