INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Senate has approved a bill that would set tighter limits on the quantities consumers may buy of cold medications often used to make methamphetamine.

Senators voted 44-4 on Monday in favor of the bill that would allow the purchase of up to 61 grams a year of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. That’s about an eight-month total of the current law’s monthly limit of 7.2 grams.

The bill also increases the criminal penalty for anyone buying more than 10 grams of those medicines intending to give them to someone who is making meth.

Some police groups have pushed for a state law requiring a doctor’s prescription for those medicines, but the bill doesn’t take that step.

The measure now goes to the House for consideration.

Posted 2/12/2013