Last day to stock up on Nyquil
As of Saturday, July 1st, any product containing pseudoephedrine will require a prescription in Oregon (and only Oregon).
For two years, Sudafed and similar products have been hidden behind the counter in local drug stores and pharmacies, and consumers were required to provide identification. This initial program has led to a 77% decrease in small-time meth production, which is pretty significant. But now, misguided politicians who want to prove they've done something have managed to pass the most draconian cold medicine law in the country.
While I think putting pseudoephedrine behind the counter was a smart move, this extra step is simply inconvenient. If you have a regular doctor, a renewable prescription can be arranged with a simple phone call. But the folks who can't afford to see a doctor in the first place, especially for sniffles, will find it difficult to obtain effective over-the-counter relief.
Also on Saturday, the school zone speed limits will be changing again. In 2003, the legislature decided that it wasn't enough to limit traffic speeds during school hours, but that we should stick to a 20 mph limit at all times, including holidays and the wee hours of the morning. This law brings the school zone limits back into a normal range: 20 mph from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days. Hooray for lawmakers being willing to accept they went too far and actually taking steps to correct something they goofed originally. Hopefully they'll rescind the prescription law above in similar fashion!
Please keep in mind that the traffic signs may not be changed right away in school zones, and the law states the sign must be followed until it is updated. If the school zone speed limit sign still says 20 mph at all times, don't think a Corvallis cop is going to let you slide without a ticket. They have nothing better to do, after all.
Addendum: The article I originally linked claimed that Nyquil contained pseudoephedrine, but it didn't sound right, so I checked their web page. Sure enough, Nyquil will still be available for swilling freely, so please ignore the title of the post. I would change it, but it messes up the link from OR Blogs.
For two years, Sudafed and similar products have been hidden behind the counter in local drug stores and pharmacies, and consumers were required to provide identification. This initial program has led to a 77% decrease in small-time meth production, which is pretty significant. But now, misguided politicians who want to prove they've done something have managed to pass the most draconian cold medicine law in the country.
While I think putting pseudoephedrine behind the counter was a smart move, this extra step is simply inconvenient. If you have a regular doctor, a renewable prescription can be arranged with a simple phone call. But the folks who can't afford to see a doctor in the first place, especially for sniffles, will find it difficult to obtain effective over-the-counter relief.
Also on Saturday, the school zone speed limits will be changing again. In 2003, the legislature decided that it wasn't enough to limit traffic speeds during school hours, but that we should stick to a 20 mph limit at all times, including holidays and the wee hours of the morning. This law brings the school zone limits back into a normal range: 20 mph from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on school days. Hooray for lawmakers being willing to accept they went too far and actually taking steps to correct something they goofed originally. Hopefully they'll rescind the prescription law above in similar fashion!
Please keep in mind that the traffic signs may not be changed right away in school zones, and the law states the sign must be followed until it is updated. If the school zone speed limit sign still says 20 mph at all times, don't think a Corvallis cop is going to let you slide without a ticket. They have nothing better to do, after all.
Addendum: The article I originally linked claimed that Nyquil contained pseudoephedrine, but it didn't sound right, so I checked their web page. Sure enough, Nyquil will still be available for swilling freely, so please ignore the title of the post. I would change it, but it messes up the link from OR Blogs.
posted by Corvallist at
2:26 PM
3 Comments:
I love Nyquil. What an invention. Goes well with depression or even Margaritas. My brother was addicted to Vick's nasal spray as a teen. He'd always ask me, if he saw me, if I had any Vick's on me. I'd have to say "I'm sorry, I don't." I think he is over that now, but I'm not sure. I don't see him.
By
Strayer, at 12:34 AM
The speed limit law confuses me. Are there not--in Corvallis currently--signs around schools that say it's 20mph only at certain times (7-9 and 3-5)? I think so, on Circle. The rest of the time it's 35. Did Corvallis law trump former Oregon law? Will it continue to, or will we have to start driving 20 from 9 to 5?
The decongestant law is dumb.
By
Anonymous, at 5:52 PM
Yes, those signs are still up in some parts of town. Under the old law, if the regular speed limit was 35 or above, the school zone limit was 20 only during the times listed. If the regular speed limit was lower, it was 20 all the time.
Under the new law, the school zone limit will apply between 7 to 5 on school days only, so during the summer and on weekends it will simply stay 35 mph all the time. But until the signs are replaced, we are supposed to continue to follow the sign limits, rather than the written law. No telling when the signs will all be replaced, but they've already changed them on Satinwood, my least favorite speed trap. So yay.
By
Corvallist, at 6:05 PM
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