As we reported back in February, the over-the-counter drug association known as the Consumer Health Products Association (CHPA) spent $194,000 in January alone to battle legislation that would require a prescription for certain cold medicines so as to combat the spread of ingredients commonly used to make methmethamphetamines.

The bill was eventually watered down after protests by legislators close to the drug industry, but it was signed into law by the governor late last month.

Now, lobbying figures have been released and it’s been revealed that CHPA broke the record in the state for special interest lobbying, spending almost half a million dollars on lobbying within the first three months of the year.

When asked about this lobbying, Sen. Tom Buford (R), who opposed the anti-meth bill, defended CHPA:

“I would not want to restrict anyone’s ability to voice their opinion because I think you move into a dictatorship when you do that,” he says. “It really sounds an exorbitant of money when you look at it, but if you go to Washington D.C. they’re spending hundreds of millions.”