We card for Nyquil?

Thanks to a new Indiana law, Nyquil has joined alcohol, pornography, cigarettes and R-rated movies on the list of items that require identification. \nIn July, Indiana passed a law that restricts access to cold medicines containing ingredients that can contribute to the making of Indiana's newest problem drug: methamphetamine. Head to your local Village Pantry or grocery store looking for deliverance from your nighttime coughing, sniffing, sneezing and that notorious "I can't go to sleep but God I want to" feeling, and you will discover relief has red tape. Your name, telephone number and address are required to purchase all cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. This would seem like a very small price to pay to stem drug use, if the new laws made any sense.\nHowever, the laws are just another example of the politicizing of a serious problem and the inefficient way politicians attempt to deal with problems as an attempt to look like they are actually working. \nGov. Mitch Daniels says the majority of meth in Indiana is not coming from Brown County, Indianapolis or anywhere else in the state. It's coming from Mexico. Unless our friends south of the border hold some sentimental value for cold medicine in Indiana's drugstores, it seems like the law might be pointless. Our Nyquil is just not that special.\nEven if the law's purpose is to deter local drug labs from making meth, this law only has prudence in Indiana. Drug dealers are not so slothful that they can't adapt to the new law. The only extra strain this puts on local drug dealers are the travel costs. Gas prices, though high, are not expensive enough to deter serious drug dealers from taking a quick drive to Kentucky, Ohio or Illinois to purchase something that will yield them high profits. \nFurthermore, it seems like these days, people will drink, sniff or inject anything into themselves to get a buzz. Bleach, aftershave and muscle relaxers can all be used to get high. Should we track people who are using these products? Are we going to start shaking down little Bobby and Sue when they purchase glue sticks in fear they will go home, cut it up, bag it and distribute the glue to their friends for sniffing? Baking soda is an essential ingredient in the manufacturing of crack cocaine, which has been a problem much longer than methamphetamine. Does the government feel it is more important to keep refrigerators smelling fresh than to halt the production of crack? Of course not. \nHowever, through the eyes of the politician, the public must see something going on to curb the meth problem, no matter how ineffectual and ineffective these laws are.\nMaybe the government deserves the benefit of the doubt about its new policy, but its wishful thinking is a waste of everyone's time. It is time for our leaders to stop experimenting with trivial laws.