The city council finds that:
A. In addition to its legal uses, ephedrine is used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, and illicit drug manufacturers extract ephedrine from various over the counter products containing as an ingredient ephedrine or pseudoephedrine;
B. There is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare in that the manufacture, processing, transportation, possession and sales of illicit narcotics and drugs are inherently dangerous, and that the chemicals, compounds, substances, byproducts and wastes associated with the manufacture of illicit narcotics and drugs are both dangerous and injurious to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the city of Deming;
C. There has been an increase in the sales, thefts and possession of the over the counter products that contain as an ingredient ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, or pseudoephedrine sulfate, as well as other products associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine;
D. Reasonable limitations on the quantity of products containing ephedrine that may be sold to or purchased by a customer on a single day will assist the city in its efforts to combat the insidious criminal methods of illegal methamphetamine manufacturers in the city, and will not unduly restrict legitimate businesses or customers from selling or buying these products. (Ord. 1109, 5-9-2005)