Cooking crystal meth?

Question by Jimmy L: Cooking crystal meth?
My question is, why is it illegal to possess the ingredients to cook meth, but it’s not illegal to possess an instructional book on how to make meth?
What I am trying to say is that if a cop pulls you over and you have things like pseudoephederine based cold medicine, acetone, matches, etc. you can be charged with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance. But why is that illegal? You haven’t actually made the drug yet, and you haven’t set up the meth lab yet. On the other hand, if you buy a meth book such as “Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture” by Uncle Fester it is totally legal because of freedom of speech and all that stuff.
The reason I am asking is because I almost got arrested yesterday because I was speeding (no pun intended, lol — I don’t do drugs and never will) and the cop noticed Sudafed and red phosphorous matches in the passenger’s seat. I am having a pretty bad cold and my sinuses are killing me. The explanation for matches is that my grandma is an old fashioned smoker who refuses to use a lighter.
So there you have it. Could someone explain why one is legal and the other is not? I am sure if I had something else like acetone in my car then I would surely go to jail for intenet to make meth. But I don’t even touch drugs ever. This is ridiculous.

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