14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, OwensboroKY Senate committee votes to restrict cold medicines

A proposal to make cold medications containing pseudoephedrine available by prescriptions only has cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 Thursday to pass the legislation aimed at curbing meth production. It now goes to the full Senate where its chances are uncertain.

Lawmakers have been debating over the past year about whether to restrict sales of certain cold and allergy medications that contain pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth, an illegal drug that's being widely abused.

A similar proposal cleared the Judiciary Committee last year but never received a vote in the full Senate. Senate Republican Floor Leader Robert Stivers II said Thursday he doesn't know if the measure has enough support to survive a floor vote.

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