Several years ago, the Alabama Legislature voted to move most cold medicines behind the counter to combat their use in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

That doesn’t bother me.

I might buy one box of cold medicine a year. It’s not a big inconvenience for me to ask the pharmacist to hand me a box. Honestly, if I had to buy a box every month, going to the counter doesn’t bother me. You have to hand it to the person behind the counter anyway to pay for it.

The inconvenience here is basically nil.

I have no problem with the pharmacist knowing I have a cold or that I need cold medicine. I have no intent on using for anything other than clearing my nose.

Two years ago, the Demopolis City Council passed an ordinance banning texting and driving in the city. That was much more of a personal inconvenience.

I fully support the measure. I don’t want to be torpedoed by someone more intent on “LOL’ing” that checking the color of their traffic light.

Have I ever run afoul of this ordinance? Absolutely.

Would I have a problem being issued a citation for it? Absolutely not.

I had it coming. I was asking for it.

I don’t do it regularly. Driving is about the only time I’m not hardwired into a laptop or my cell phone. I try to use that time to clear my mind. But, I have responded to a text or email here and there.

I am much more inconvenienced by the inability to to respond or seek response immediately than I am to wait an additional 30 seconds in line for cold medicine.

Some residents are up in arms that the simple purchase of cold medicine could have them stopped by police. To those residents I say, go buy a box today and see what happens.

Unless you bought one yesterday, the answer is probably nothing.

Even if you bought one yesterday, the answer isn’t likely to change.

The law isn’t designed to create a Sudafed Gestopo. There’s not going to be a cold medicine shakedown.

Some see this an an infringement on their rights. I completely agree with that.

But my rights are infringed upon by those who don’t know how to follow the rules, not the government. If everyone used this medicine the way it was intended, there would be no need to control it. Alas, such is not the world we live in today.

In short, if you’re buying cold medicine to treat a cold, you’re not going to have a problem.

If you’re buying to make or receive meth, you probably are.

And, much like me those times I’ve checked email while in transit, you will get what you’re asking for.

Jason Cannon is the Publisher of The Demopolis Times.