PARK HILLS - Gov. Matt Blunt recently signed legislation saving the Missouri Sheriff's Methamphetamine Relief Teams (MoSMART) that were cut by the Congressional leadership in Washington. The governor's action provides more than $1.8 million in supplemental funding to help in the state's fight against meth.

"The manufacture and use of meth is a scourge on our state and nation, and we must do everything in our power to fight this deadly drug," Gov. Blunt said. "Sen. Kit Bond fought vigorously to stop the elimination of these task forces but the leadership in Washington and their followers in the Congress supported the cut. Working together with Missouri law enforcement we have saved the task forces with this state funding to ensure we have the resources needed to protect Missouri families from this terrible drug. I commend the Missouri House and Senate for stepping in and allowing us to protect Missourians from yet another failure in Washington."

Gov. Blunt has worked with law enforcement over the last three years to reduce the negative impact of meth in Missouri. The

governor signed anti-meth legislation in June 2005 to limit access to the materials used to make meth. The law restricts the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine and relocates them behind pharmacy counters. Consumers also now are required to show photo identification before purchasing products containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine and are limited to how much of the products they can purchase each month. Under the legislation pharmacies are required to maintain purchase logs and make them available for inspection to law enforcement officers.

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