SKEPTICISM OVER NEW METH LAWS

Okanagan Lawyers, Police Officers Say Tougher Sentences For Crystal Meth
Will Only Make A Difference If Judges Impose Them

Don't expect to see any crystal meth traffickers receive a life sentence.
Even though the federal government has increased the penalty for meth
production and trafficking from 10 years to life, a Kelowna drug cop and a
Vernon defence lawyer agree that judges are unlikely to impose the maximum
penalty

"It's a good thing, but it won't work," said Vernon lawyer Paul Danyliu. "I
think it was done to placate the public. However, I think it may step up
sentences to a more significant amount of time." The change in legislation
puts meth penalties in line with those for heroin and cocaine, both of
which carry maximum sentences of life

Danyliu said he is not aware of a judge ever imposing a life sentence for
cocaine trafficking. He said a life sentence was handed to a heroin
trafficker, but was reduced on appeal to 20 years

Kelowna RCMP Cpl. Carey Chernoff said tougher sentences on the books won't
do any good if judges don't enforce them

"We see people getting 20 days for trafficking in cocaine," he said. "You
don't see sentences anywhere near life or even 15 or 10 years

"I think the harsher sentence is a positive step, but it has to come down
from the politicians to the judges. I think the court has been waiting for
a little direction on meth, and I hope this stronger legislation will
provide that." Chernoff said that when he worked in Alberta, a large number
of young Vietnamese were dealing drugs

"When you ask them why they are doing it, they'll say there is a good
profit with little risk (from the courts)," said Chernoff. "In Vietnam, you
get 15 years for the first offence and death for the second. A first
offender in Canada will probably get probation

"However, an argument could be made that the sentences in Vietnam haven't
curtailed drug trafficking there either." Chernoff said there are meth labs
in the Okanagan, but nothing to match grow-ops in numbers

"A lot of the meth in the Okanagan is coming from the Lower Mainland," he said

Penticton lawyer Richard Covell said he also believes it's now up to the
courts to make an impact on meth trafficking

"The legislation is a step in the right direction, but now the courts need
to follow up with significant penalties for the pushers," said Covell.
"These people sell meth to adolescents for less than the cost of a pack of
cigarettes and get them hooked after only one or two tries. This is a
highly toxic drug that not only affects the users' lifestyle, but also does
physical damage." Covell said a tough treatment approach needs to be taken
in British Columbia, as it is in Alberta

"In B.C., treatment is voluntary," he said. "It needs to be compulsory

"If an addict goes into the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre, the door is
locked behind them. They have to earn everything back by working the program

"There is a crying need in B.C. for compulsory treatment for adolescents."
Meth is a synthetic drug that can be smoked, snorted, injected or
swallowed. Unlike cocaine, which is metabolized quickly, a $5 hit of meth
can last for up to 24 hours

It creates a state of elation, but chronic users become depressed and often
violent

Danyliu said the solution to drugs isn't in sentencing

"People get life sentences because they need constant supervision as
threats to society," he said. "Drug dealing is a business decision. You
have to make it a non-lucrative endeavour by legalizing and supervising it,
and establishing a drug addict registry."