METH BILL 'SMALL STEP'

Most meth labs in this province use chemical products from overseas,
according to a senior drug cop who says a bill tabled by a Surrey MLA
this week will likely have little effect.

Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey Panorama Ridge, introduced the Crystal
Meth Prevention Act in the legislature Wednesday to control the sale
of cold medicines at pharmacies.

Some of the medicines contain drugs (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine)
that can be extracted and made into crystal methamphetamine (meth),
an extremely addictive and dangerous drug.

RCMP Sgt. Scott Rintoule called Brar's bill "proactive" and welcomed
any legislation that might help, but pointed out that police in this
province rarely find evidence of distilled cold medicines in busted meth labs.

Virtually all ephedrine and pseudoephedrine is bought in pure form
from China and India. Its importation is legal to licensed buyers who
claim to be making cold medicine.

Rintoule, head of drug and organized crime awareness for the RCMP,
said most of the labs are run by gangs.

He also observed that meaningful change will require adequate
treatment for those addicted to the drug.

Brar said Thursday his bill is a "small but important" step in
curbing the production of meth in this province.

He pointed to an example of a drug lab near James Bay on Vancouver
Island where 200 capsules of cold medicine were found.

Earlier this year the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory
Authorities wanted to restrict pharmacy over-the-counter sales of
cold and allergy medicines containing the drugs.

However, the B.C. College of Pharmacists isn't prepared to restrict
the sale of the precursors yet as it's apparent they aren't being
widely used to make meth.

Brar's bill will be debated further, likely in the fall sitting of
the legislature.