LANSING —  Tougher limits on the purchase of cold and allergy medications will go into effect on January 1, 2012 in an effort to combat methamphetamine drug lab operators stocking up at stores. 

A new statewide database will help enforce the new rules, which will limit single buyers to 3.6 grams a day and 9 grams per month. Purchasers of medications containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine will be required to produce their ID and have their names entered into a law enforcement database. The law was signed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on Friday of last week. 

Costs for the database will be covered by suppliers of the drugs who were concerned that prescriptions would need to be used if new controls were not put into place.