NARCOTICS BILL TARGETS IODINE FOR METH LABS.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

LANCASTER - At the urging of narcotics investigators, an Antelope Valley lawmaker has introduced legislation that would make it a crime to possess the common antiseptic iodine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

State law already limits the amount of crystal iodine an individual can purchase in a month, but it does not limit possession of the substance in either its crystal form or in the more common dilution.

``They can order it online, they can order it out of state, so actually possession is the problem,'' Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, said at an announcement attended by officials of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is sponsoring the bill.

Narcotics investigators say they sometimes find drug suspects with large quantities of iodine but can't charge them with crimes because possession of the substance is legal.

``Hopefully this will close a loophole in the law on the criminal manufacture of methamphetamine. It sounds good. I hope it does pass,'' said sheriff's Sgt. Craig Anderson, a member of the North County Methamphetamine Task Force.

A powerful stimulant that can provoke rages in its users, methamphetamine has long been popular among Antelope Valley drug abusers because of its relatively low cost and crude manufacturing process.

The valley's open spaces also provide isolated places for hiding illicit labs, investigators say, though they also find labs - containing chemicals described as extremely poisonous and explosive - in tract home garages, apartments and motel rooms.

California has a reputation as the U.S. leader in methamphetamine manufacturing, with some 1,400 labs seized last year. The Antelope Valley had 53 labs, up three from the year before.

Twice in the past year, narcotics investigators say they have found drug suspects in the Antelope Valley with large amounts of iodine - in one case, 24 12-ounce jars. Investigators believe the people were brokers, acquiring iodine for re-sale to drug makers.

Iodine itself is not an ingredient in methamphetamine, but it can be converted chemically into a necessary component, a dangerous and corrosive acid called hydriodic acid.

Hydriodic acid has been illegal for years, so drug makers have begun acquiring iodine to make it, officials said.

Iodine's connection to methamphetamine made the news three years ago after three sisters in their 60s were charged with breaking state law by failing to take down the names and license numbers of iodine purchasers at their Lancaster feed store.

The three said they didn't want to spy on customers or to keep records that could lead a drug maker to burn down the store to destroy evidence.

They were convicted in 2001 by a Lancaster jury, fined and put on probation. The convictions were appealed.

Runner's proposed law would not apply to people who are licensed to possess large amounts of iodine, such as veterinarians or pharmacists, or to someone with a bottle of iodine for legitimate use in a medicine cabinet, officials said.

Other evidence must show that the person with the iodine intended for it to be used in manufacturing methamphetamine, officials said.

The bill aims to balance the need for legitimate access to iodine while thwarting criminals' efforts to manufacture drugs, Runner said.

The bill is likely to get its first hearing in March before the Assembly Public Safety Committee, Runner said.