NASHVILLE (AP) — State Attorney General Bob Cooper says in a legal opinion that Tennessee law prohibits cities and counties from enacting their own ordinances controlling the sale of cold medicines used to make methamphetamine.

The legal opinion released Tuesday comes as several municipalities have moved to require a doctor's prescription to buy pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines in hopes of cracking down on meth production.

Cooper said in the opinion that the General Assembly's intent has been for statewide rules enforcing meth precursors.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/18inUOv ) reported this week that Winchester Police Chief Dennis Young has been spearheading efforts to enact local ordinances around the state. Those efforts have been criticized by several local government groups and by drug companies that make cold medicine.