The cornerstone of this change was the . This federal law moved pseudoephedrine products out of reach of the general public, requiring consumers to ask a pharmacist or clerk for the item. This barrier was not intended to discourage legitimate use but to create a paper trail for law enforcement. By mandating that purchasers be at least 18 years old and provide identification, the government effectively ended "smurfing"—the practice of hiring multiple people to buy small amounts of the drug to bypass limits.
While the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA) sets the baseline for these sales, specific regulations can vary slightly by state: age to buy sudafed
In the United States, you must be at least to purchase Sudafed and other products containing pseudoephedrine over the counter. Because pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine, federal law requires retailers to keep these products "behind the counter" and verify the buyer's age and identity with a government-issued photo ID. Federal and State Requirements The cornerstone of this change was the