In some small, rural towns, retailers such as the J-Mart in Grafton are the only establishments where residents can obtain cold medicines. "There's nothing else here, not even a gas station," said Jeff Jessen, owner of the small grocery store.

Vilsack's proposal is aimed at curbing methamphetamine production by controlling products containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the making of the drug. Under the proposal, pseudoephedrine would become a Schedule V controlled substance that could only be dispensed by pharmacists. Residents would have to show a valid ID and sign a logbook in order to purchase products containing pseudoephedrine.

"The meth issue is not going away," said Marvin Van Haaften, director of the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy. "Iowans are horrified by it."

In 2003, state and local la-enforcement officers seized 1,155 meth labs. This year, they have uncovered 1,075 labs.

Retailers see the issue differently. "Basically, it's a question of what is the government's role in protecting us from ourselves," Jessen said. "This is not the solution."

But Worth County Deputy Sheriff Dan Fank supports the governor's plan. He has been involved in finding and cleaning up clandestine meth labs as a member of a regional anti-meth task force.

"It's going to make a huge difference, actually. We've got to keep taking steps forward," Fank said. "I don't feel that sorry for retailers when we're out here having to deal with it."

Earlier this year, the Iowa legislature passed a bill that limited the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine as a single active ingredient to no more than two boxes at one purchase. But Van Haaften said the bill failed to cover the numerous multi-active-ingredient pseudoephedrine products that can also be used to make meth.

Lawmakers will address Vilsack's proposal when the legislature reconvenes in January.

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