Oregon House passes bill to require prescriptions for cold medications used to make methamphetamine News
Oregon House passes bill to require prescriptions for cold medications used to make methamphetamine

[JURIST] The Oregon House of Representatives [official website] voted 55-4 on Wednesday [press release] to require a prescription for cold medications that contain pseudoephdrine, a nasal decongestant that is used by drug dealers to make meth. The measure is expected to pass the Senate and is supported by Gov. Ted Kulongoski [official website; press release]. Although Oregon joins other states in limiting quantities, requiring ID for purchase, and limiting sales of the drugs to pharmacies, they would be the first state to require prescriptions if the bill becomes law. Some drug companies are running ads to oppose the bill and are preparing substitutes if it passes, fearing that consumers won't bother to see a doctor for a mere cold. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

No lynchings reported in US for first time

On December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute reported that 1952 was the first year of no lynchings of African Americans in the United States in the 71 years it had kept records. Learn more about lynching and listen to Billie Holiday's jazz recording of the 1938 protest song Strange Fruit.

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On December 30, 1922, representatives of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucus approved the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, creating the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). During World War II, the USSR would also annex Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova. Learn more about the history of the USSR from the BBC.