WEST VIRGINIA NEEDS TOUGHER METH LAWS

The illegal methamphetamine business is booming, and West Virginia needs
tougher laws against manufacturing and selling the speed-like drug, made
from over-the-counter chemicals.

Prosecutors in Wood County have dealt with a rash of meth labs in their
area, and they have found that the state penalties for manufacturing are
too weak -- one to 15 years and a $25,000 fine. A federal charge for the
same offense can mean five to 40 years and fines of $2 million, pushing
many state cases into federal courts, the Associated Press reports.

At the same time, meth "cooks" are coming up with new ways to produce the
drug and avoid detection, including using trucks and trailers as mobile
labs. Kentucky officials have seized 20 mobile labs and Ohio another 10.

Bills that would increase the penalties for methamphetamine crimes in West
Virginia died during the last legislative session, but these trends show
legislators need to take that action in the next regular session.