CRYSTAL METH PUSHERS FACE STIFFER SENTENCES

Producers and traffickers of crystal meth will face stiffer penalties as
high as life in prison, the federal government announced Thursday.
Methamphetamine will join drugs like cocaine and heroin covered under
Ottawa's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

That moves the maximum penalty for production, trafficking, possession and
importing or exporting of meth from a present 10 years to life in prison.

The change is expected to put an end to the much lighter penalties
typically handed out to producers, traffickers and importers and others
involved in the illegal drug's supply network.

"There are significant health, social and economic harms caused by
methamphetamine, not only for users, but for communities as well," Health
Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said last week.

He said the law must reflect the impact on victims and families.

The most serious cases will be dealt with by a team of designated special
prosecutors, Attorney-General Irwin Cotler said, adding they'll be armed
with special tools to convey to the court the damage meth causes.

The measures come in the wake of amendments proposed by Ottawa earlier this
year to place four substances used to make methamphetamine on a list of
controlled "precursor chemicals"-possession of which becomes an offence
drawing a fine of up to $5,000 and up to three years imprisonment.

Crystal meth is easily produced in small clandestine labs, often in
kitchens and bathrooms, by blending pseudoephedrine with a series of other
chemicals and ingredients. Such labs are notoriously dangerous, often
causing hazardous chemical fires.

Meth addicts are also among the most difficult to treat.

Sometimes known as "the poor man's cocaine," the synthetic drug is cheap to
make-a $150 investment can yield $10,000 worth of meth.