Topeka ? A southeast Kansas legislator said he would draw up legislation copying an Oklahoma law combating methamphetamine production for two reasons: The law has reduced meth making in Oklahoma, and it also has led to an increase of activity in rural Kansas.

“Since Oklahoma’s law passed, there has been quite an influx over the border,” said Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence. “We would just assume they go back home.”

Schmidt said he and other lawmakers would prefile a bill next week on the issue in preparation for the Jan. 10 start of the 2005 legislative session.

He said the bill would restrict access to over-the-counter tablet-form ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products.

The substances are found in many cold medicines and can be used in the production of meth.

The tablet form of these products would still be available without a prescription, but they would be locked up and a pharmacist would have to retrieve them, Schmidt said.

This will prevent someone from shoplifting the tablets, he said.

Oklahoma recently enacted a law that keeps tablet forms of pseudoephedrine behind the counter in pharmacies, limits how much customers can buy each month and requires that they show identification and sign for the drug.

Gel and liquid forms of pseudoephedrine are not used to make meth and are not subject to restrictions.

Schmidt said his proposal would closely track the Oklahoma law, which officials there say have reduced meth production by about half.

State studying Oklahoma law to stop meth labs (12-9-04) Officials want restrictions on sale of meth ingredients (12-8-04)

Kansas law enforcement officials also have spoken highly of the Oklahoma law and have pledged to make recommendations on what Kansas should do in the upcoming session.

Kansas consistently ranks among the top states in the number of meth labs seized.

So far this year, there have been 475 meth labs seized in Kansas, compared with 302 in all of 2003, according to KBI statistics.