The Alabama Legislature on Thursday passed House Bill 363 in order to give law enforcement the tools that they need to curb the epidemic that is corroding our state.

House Bill 363 is one of the country’s toughest meth laws and will serve as a deterrent to those who seek to prey on the citizens of Alabama. Sen. Bill Holtzclaw,R-Madison, sponsor of the bill in the Senate, said the passage of the bill will help deal with the epidemic of crystal meth.

“It’s important that we do everything we can to stop the manufacture and distribution of crystal meth in our state. At the same time, we don’t want to burden our law abiding citizens by making this common drug difficult to obtain. This bill allows for that,” Holtzclaw said.

One of the most pervasive problems in Alabama is the proliferation of methamphetamine. Newly created ways to manufacture meth such as “shake and bake” labs have created an additional threat to law enforcement and our citizens.