Court: Meth felons must be told allergy med purchase illegal

By MARTHA WAGGONER
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The Court of Appeals says the state must notify people convicted of possessing or manufacturing methamphetamine that it’s illegal for them to purchase some over-the-counter medicines even for legal uses.

In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the court vacated the sentence of a man convicted in February 2015 of possessing a product containing pseudoephedrine. He had purchased a box of medicine in January 2014 at a store in Boone.

As of Dec. 1, 2013, North Carolina law made it illegal for anyone with a prior conviction for possession or manufacture of meth to buy products containing pseudoephedrine.

The court said the state must find a way to tell such felons that their purchase of such cold products is always illegal, such as posting signs in pharmacies.