It could be more due to the methamphetamine problem than anything. It's supposed to be easy to make meth and it's a key ingredient in it. In my state they've put a law into place that anytime you purschase a product containing psedo ephedrine or ephedrine(Sudafed...etc), you have to show ID to get it and they copy your info down and it's fowarded to the drug task force to monitor your buying of it. You now have to ask for it as they don't put it on the shelves anymore due to so many thefts of it and so they can track it. You can purchase so many tablets per month. You will be arrested for buying or having too much.