SHUTTING METH DOWN

Two Bills Will Speed Up The Crack Down On Producers

In recent years, with the onset of an easier way to produce
methamphetamine, local law-enforcement officers have at times busted one or
more meth labs per week. Due to the outbreak of this extremely addictive
and destructive drug, we in the Legislature worked hard this session to
pass laws providing stricter punishment for manufacturers of methamphetamine.

Two bills I sponsored this session, House Bill 2087 and House Bill 3351,
will fight against meth production and abuse. HB 2087 holds a meth
manufacturer liable for damages arising from the drug's manufacture, such
as personal injury, death or property damages. Additionally, this bill
allows prosecutors to hold meth cooks responsible for any harm caused by
the waste products produced in the manufacture of the drug.

HB 3351 strengthens state laws regarding the illegal manufacture and
possession of methamphetamine, makes such offenses more prone to
prosecution and clarifies the conditions under which the intent to produce
methamphetamine is presumed. The bill also punishes those who use
five-gallon propane tanks to illegally transport anhydrous ammonia or who
use anhydrous ammonia tanks without the consent of the tank owner. Under
the new law, penalties are increased from state jail time to a state jail
felony of third degree for such violations.

The far-reaching effects of this drug have been found to be hurtful to all
parties involved. Aside from the fact that meth causes paranoia,
hallucinations, aggressive behavior, and severe depression in users, it can
result in a lengthy prison term and heavy fines for the drug manufacturers.

Also, these drug manufacturers are sometimes injured by unexpected
explosions of the drug labs and will delay treatment or not seek medical
attention at all because they know they will face jail time for their
illegal activity. As for the innocent children born to methamphetamine
addicts, who are already at higher risk of neglect and child abuse, they
tend to grow up as asocial and incapable of bonding. Finally, the
environmental damages of producing methamphetamine are high because it
generates five to seven pounds of toxic waste for every pound of the drug
produced, and cleaning up the waste from even a small meth lab can cost
thousands of dollars.

There is still more that could be done by the Legislature to address the
abuse of methamphetamine in North Texas, but hopefully the passage of these
measures will deter manufactures from producing the drug and help all
parties involved to think twice before putting themselves and others in danger.