PROVINCES TO FORM ANTI-CRYSTAL METH PLAN

REGINA -- The fight against crystal meth abuse has led western
provinces and territories to a planned crackdown on the sale of cold
medicine that contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, the key
ingredient in crystal meth.

At a two-day meeting on crystal meth, western ministers and government
officials agreed to come up with a plan by Oct. 1 to put restrictions
on the sale of the cold medicine.

They also agreed to hold a Western Canada clinical conference to
discuss best practices in prevention and treatment. And they called on
the federal government to toughen the laws around crystal meth and put
tighter controls on the chemicals that go into the drug.

Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert, who instigated and chaired the
meeting, said the use of the drug is spreading from west to east, and
governments must act before it becomes an epidemic in Canada.

"We have an opportunity here to do some preventative methods for once
and deal very clearly and definitely with crystal meth now," he said.
"It is clear that we are not an island and that this is moving."

Politicians and civil servants at the meeting heard from officials in
the fields of law enforcement, prevention and treatment as well as
first-hand accounts from recovered crystal meth addicts.

Much of Friday's closing press conference was aimed at the federal
government, with officials urging the government to implement harsher
penalties for crystal meth possession and trafficking, and expand
legislation to create offences for possession on precursor
ingredients.

The government is also considering changes to the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act to move crystal meth to a different schedule to allow
for tougher penalties. A decision is expected in the fall.