COLEMAN NOW WANTS TO BATTLE METH

Change In Position: Solicitor-General Says We Need To Regulate Sale Of
Ingredients

Weeks after he told The Province that B.C. doesn't need to officially
regulate the sale of methamphetamine ingredients, Sol.-Gen. Rich Coleman
has done an abrupt about-face.

B.C.'s top cop now says his staff is "looking into" the possibility of
enacting legislation or regulations that would limit people's ability to
purchase large quantities of cough and cold medication containing ephedrine
or pseudephedrine, two crucial meth ingredients known as precursors.

When The Province interviewed Coleman for a week-long series of
methamphetamine features that ran April 17-23, he did not favour efforts
similar to those under way just south of the border.

"The larger labs are not getting their products from the local drug store,"
he said at the time.

Coleman explained that he preferred a "partner" approach rather than a
"prescriptive" one when it came to working with the pharmacy industry. He
said he doubted a B.C. law echoing Washington's would significantly reduce
the amount of meth on local streets.

"I know I said that at the time," Coleman admitted yesterday, adding that
staffers at the ministry are now examining the Washington state model for
adoption in B.C.

Washington lawmakers voted unanimously last week to pass a bill that
requires anyone buying a precursor product to be at least 18, present ID
and limit the number of packages they can buy to two every 24 hours. Stores
also have to keep a log of who is buying the products. That list would help
police target meth labs.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Tom Campbell, told the Seattle Times the
legislation will "make a huge difference in all of our communities."

Pharmacists' associations in Alberta and Saskatchewan have advocated that a
similar approach be taken in those provinces.

The impending election and media coverage of meth issues had nothing to do
with the reversal, Coleman insisted yesterday.

"The motivation [behind the direction to staff] is: Is there a way to
reduce the activities of a home lab? When people get messed on this stuff,
it's just atrocious," he said.

"To me, it doesn't matter if there's an election going on or not."

Any tool that would help reduce the supply of meth of the streets of B.C.
is one that's worth investigating, Coleman said.

He also wants to see a toll-free phone line established so drugstore
employees can report "odd sales" and for the government and pharmacists to
work co-operatively to identify bulk buyers.

The B.C. Pharmacy Association has indicated it is ready to work with the
government in developing an anti-meth policy. An association spokesperson
was not available for comment yesterday.

- - The Province hosted a community forum in Kamloops on Tuesday on the
devastating effects of methamphetamine.

Close to 200 people attended. One of their key complaints was that the
provincial government is not doing enough to address the meth issue or
respond to demands for more rehab beds.

A forum in Victoria is planned for tomorrow at Oak Bay High. A third will
run Tuesday at the Bell Centre for Performing Arts in Surrey.

The final session takes place Thursday in Vancouver at John Oliver
Secondary. All are at 7 p.m. and free of charge.