# Why are Iodine sales now restricted by the DEA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324 "2010-12-07T20:18:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/21 "2010-12-09T16:34:32Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Now I’m thinking of starting a new GQ: Is there any chemical NOT used to make meth. Cinnamon. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/22 "2010-12-09T16:43:29Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Now I’m thinking of starting a new GQ: Is there any chemical NOT used to make meth. [BaCoN](http://republicofbacon.com/wp-content/uploads/bacon-periodic-table-daryl-MANUAL-HIGH-RES.jpg). Because, face it: if it were, there’d be a lot more meth heads. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/23 "2010-12-09T16:47:04Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > You know, I’m pretty sure water is used at some point in the manufacture of meth. > > (You do need to _water_ those little blue flowers, after all…) [Obligatory link](http://www.dhmo.org/) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/24 "2010-12-10T05:47:16Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Except for that hypertension thing… psuedophedrine is not a totally benign drug. It can cause hypertensive crisis in susceptible individuals. There was pharmacist who wouldn’t let my mother buy Sudafed because she has high blood pressure. I don’t know why the pharmacist thinks it’s his place to decide what she can and can’t take. And she was getting it for my sister anyways. Obviously, the answer is to go to another pharmacy, but geez. The stuff has been over-the-counter forever, and it wasn’t put behind the counter because of it’s hypertensive effects. And Mom’s taken it dozens of times. Her doctor has even prescribed her stuff that has it in it. But, because his place of work allows him to not give out medicines on ethical grounds, he was able to refuse the sale. Man, just writing about it again makes me angry. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/25 "2010-12-10T06:32:38Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Cinnamon. That only _used_ to be true, but cinnamon-flavored meth has come largely into fashion this season. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/26 "2010-12-10T11:37:28Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > And that shit is highly UNSTABLE. Like spontaneously unstable. Yes, I rather do know. Making TNT was a bit different though, we did that in class with the teacher doing much of the actual work. I loved the 70s when you could do stupid shit like that without the bomb squad showing up. And old all silver dimes are perfect premeasured bits of silver for silver fulminate. And for what it is worth, I did used to work in a chemical factory, and just because someone knows how to do something, and has played at something doesn’t mean they are a terrorist :rolleyes: so I really don’t feel like coming back into the thread and getting lectured at. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/27 "2010-12-10T13:55:28Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Yes, I rather do know. Making TNT was a bit different though, we did that in class with the teacher doing much of the actual work. > > I loved the 70s when you could do stupid shit like that without the bomb squad showing up. > > And old all silver dimes are perfect premeasured bits of silver for silver fulminate. > > And for what it is worth, I did used to work in a chemical factory, and just because someone knows how to do something, and has played at something doesn’t mean they are a terrorist :rolleyes: so I really don’t feel like coming back into the thread and getting lectured at. Lighten up Francis. Yeah, it doesnt make you a terrorist, even though thats exactly what I called you :rolleyes: But not even remotely mentioning that not only was it an explosive, its probably one of most highly unstable ones does make one rather irresponsible. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/28 "2010-12-10T17:54:58Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Lighten up Francis. > > Yeah, it doesnt make you a terrorist, even though thats exactly what I called you :rolleyes: > > But not even remotely mentioning that not only was it an explosive, its probably one of most highly unstable ones does make one rather irresponsible. Oh? Well, I didn’t give the 'recipe" nor the procedure to use, nor suggest anybody make it. So, if I mentioned you make hash out of marijuana, I am a dealer?:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/29 "2010-12-10T18:01:26Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Oh? Well, I didn’t give the 'recipe" nor the procedure to use, nor suggest anybody make it. > > So, if I mentioned you make hash out of marijuana, I am a dealer?:rolleyes: And I didnt in my first post: Mention your name. Even imply your name. Call you a terrorist. Or lecture you. And neither did anybody else. Take your complaint to the pit and see how it goes Francis. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/30 "2010-12-11T18:32:27Z")
Ed. [removed link to methamphetamine recipe] But the classic work on the subject is Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture (3rd ed) ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/31 "2010-12-12T23:05:56Z")
This has turned into a comical thread - but meth is no joke. IMHO, it’s worse than crack and on par with heroin. Iodine regulation may be overstepping a bit (I used to work for DEA), but it’s an attempt at keeping this junk off the street. The execution may be flawed, but the intent isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![DHMO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@DHMO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DHMO)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/32 "2010-12-12T23:31:01Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Last weekend I had to report a burglary at my lake place. When the sheriff arrived to take my statement, I noticed him looking at the gram scale and assorted chemicals on my kitchen counter: potassium permanganate, powdered aluminum, iron oxide, and glycerine. > > I explained simply: backyard pyrotechnics. I guess he was OK with that. But he told me that KMnO[sub]4[/sub] is used in production of meth… :smack: I work in Water Treatment in Colorado, and at times, we dump KMnO[sub]4[/sub] into the drinking water by the pound for taste and odor control. We keep upwards of 20 _tons_ of the stuff on hand during algae season. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/33 "2010-12-13T00:04:57Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > [Link removed by Gfactor] > > But the classic work on the subject is Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture (3rd ed) It’s not what I had thought of. I was considering going from dexedrine. It may be more difficult to obtain, but raise fewer flags. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/34 "2010-12-13T00:51:44Z")
I think the most popular method currently involves the use of a pressurized vessel or “bomb”. I think it is called the ‘shake and bake’ method for anyone interested in, you know, researching it - for a friend, obviously. Most of the reagents are pretty easy to get but will introduce all manner of harmful contaminants. You would have to be extremely desperate in my opinion to consume anything made in this way. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/35 "2010-12-13T01:30:09Z")
1. 1. I’ve removed the link \*\*dzero \*\*posted because the site appeared to give instructions on how to make methamphetamine. 2. > [@billfish678](#): > > Lighten up Francis. > > Yeah, it doesnt make you a terrorist, even though thats exactly what I called you :rolleyes: > > But not even remotely mentioning that not only was it an explosive, its probably one of most highly unstable ones does make one rather irresponsible. > [@aruvqan](#): > > Oh? Well, I didn’t give the 'recipe" nor the procedure to use, nor suggest anybody make it. > > So, if I mentioned you make hash out of marijuana, I am a dealer?:rolleyes: > [@billfish678](#): > > And I didnt in my first post: > > Mention your name. > > Even imply your name. > > Call you a terrorist. > > Or lecture you. > > And neither did anybody else. > > Take your complaint to the pit and see how it goes Francis. Can’t we all just get along? Please continue the personal portion of this discussion in The Pit. No warnings issued. \*\* Gfactor\*\* General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/36 "2010-12-13T02:14:17Z")
My apologies. I’ll try to bear that in mind for the future. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![cavyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@cavyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cavyguy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/37 "2011-08-28T15:45:05Z")
That’s great to hear that colds and allergies are just withdrawal, that means my 40 years of suffering will end if I just stop using meth. (maybe I should start using it so I can stop?) I run a farm and we use iodine to decontaminate, the DEA putting limits and forms on everything hasn’t impacted the availability of meth at all, but it has put a real burden on farmers. When we have all 5 of us get a cold together, we have to go to the drugstore every other day because of the limits on sudafed. That costs me a lot of time and money too. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/38 "2011-08-28T19:12:32Z")
I really thought, at the time, that my statement about colds and meth withdrawal was obviously sarcastic. Next time I will be more obvious. FTR, I occasionally work at a CSA, and I haven’t heard of any difficulty getting iodine. I have no problems buying it for brewing beer either. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/39 "2011-08-29T04:48:45Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > FTR, I occasionally work at a CSA, and I haven’t heard of any difficulty getting iodine. I have no problems buying it for brewing beer either. That’s the interesting thing - in the time since I posted this question, it’s gotten even more puzzling. A co-worker attempted to turn in the authorization paperwork to the DEA and got a response from them telling him we didn’t need any paperwork to buy iodine, but the supplier (Sigma-Aldrich) was still telling us we did. There were also some other chemical suppliers that were willing to supply iodine without the paperwork, but at least one other (not sure which one) also seemed to be under the impression that we needed to file papers with the DEA. Still not sure what was going on then. The problem’s likely been resolved, since I haven’t heard about it in a couple of months, maybe more. But I’m still not sure what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324/40 "2011-08-29T05:24:45Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Last weekend I had to report a burglary at my lake place. When the sheriff arrived to take my statement, I noticed him looking at the gram scale and assorted chemicals on my kitchen counter: potassium permanganate, powdered aluminum, iron oxide, and glycerine. > > I explained simply: backyard pyrotechnics. I guess he was OK with that. But he told me that KMnO[sub]4[/sub] is used in production of meth. > > I didn’t know that. > > I’m kind of glad he didn’t see my brand new container of lye that I’m going to use to make soap. > > I _did_ know that lye is used in making meth. > > Explaining away one ingredient wasn’t bad. Two might have been dicey. Would your sheriff’s last name be Wiggum, by any chance ? - Hey now, are you using this stuff to cook meth ? - No sir, it’s to build homemade bombs with. - Oh, all right then, carry on ! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-iodine-sales-now-restricted-by-the-dea/563324.md?page=1)