Tobacco, pillbox bills forwarded to governor

AUGUSTA – The Senate gave final approval and sent to Gov. John Baldacci bills to make it harder for youths to buy cigarettes and to make it legal to put prescription drugs in temporary pillboxes.

A bill that won a final enactment vote in the Senate, LD 885 prohibits minors from entering tobacco specialty shops unless accompanied by a parent. It also would impose the same restrictions on who can sell tobacco products in retail stores as those already in effect for the sale of alcohol.

The other bill, LD 630, seeks to change current law that makes it illegal to remove a prescription drug from its original pharmacy container until the time it is consumed.

The law is designed to help police catch illegal drug traffickers by enabling investigators to verify that the drugs belong to the person possessing them.

But critics say the law makes a criminal of anyone who temporarily puts a prescription drug in a shirt pocket or a separate container. Pillboxes are widely used by elderly people who take multiple medications so they can keep closer track of their dosages.

A compromise bill approved by lawmakers makes it legal for a person to put his prescription drugs in a container other than the original.