Topeka ? Anti-methamphetamine legislation was stalled Monday, and a key senator accused chain pharmacies of working behind the scenes to weaken the proposal.

“These folks need to have the courage to say that the convenience of a chain pharmacy outweighs the safety of Kansans,” said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, a Republican from Independence.

John Kiefhaber, executive director of the Kansas Pharmacists Assn., denied the charge.

He said chain pharmacies, which are part of his association, have concerns with the legislation, and have, on a national basis, elsewhere opposed certain proposed restrictions.

But, he said, “we’ve tempered our position according to the Kansas situation.”

The measure, Senate Bill 27, would restrict the sale of Sudafed and other tablet forms of cold medicines that contain ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. These medicines can be used in the manufacture of illegal methamphetamine.

The measure has the backing of law enforcement, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and numerous others. They cite a similar proposal enacted in Oklahoma, which officials said had drastically reduced the amount of methamphetamine made in the Sooner State but increased the flow of meth makers to Kansas.

Under the measure, Sudafed tablets and similar medicines could only be sold by a licensed pharmacist, and buyers would have to show identification and sign a log.

Schmidt said “mom and pop” stores that would no longer sell the products under the bill have said they are OK with losing that revenue.

Ironically, he said, it’s the big pharmacies that don’t want the law because of the hassle “of having large numbers of products to control.”

Kiefhaber conceded that larger pharmacies had difficulties moving a larger number of products behind the counter.

But, he said, “we’re not going to oppose” putting the products behind the counter and making them available only through a licensed pharmacist.

During discussion on the bill Monday in the Senate Judiciary Committee, several senators said limiting the sale of ephedrine products could make it more difficult for asthma sufferers to get medicine during emergency situations.

As an asthma sufferer, Sen. Kay O’Connor, R-Olathe, said she didn’t want to be stuck in an area of the state without a pharmacy when she had an attack.

“This stuff is what I need. It keeps me out of the emergency room,” she said.

After the committee failed to get a majority vote for several proposals, Sen. John Vratil, R-Leawood, the chairman, said the issue needed more study.

“We’ll come back to this in a couple of weeks,” Vratil said.