PERTH OFFICIALS PRAISE CRYSTAL METH PENALTY

Penalties for possessing, making and trafficking crystal meth, a drug
called the poor man's cocaine, were hiked yesterday in a strategy some
critics say has proved worthless in the fight against coke and heroin.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said the maximum penalty for production and
distribution has increased to life in prison from 10 years. That brings the
penalties in line with the same offences associated with heroin and cocaine.

In Perth County, often considered the drug's Ontario production capital,
officials praised the stiffer penalties on methamphetamine, which is also
known as crystal meth.

"It certainly is good news that they're treating it more seriously," said
Perth OPP Const. Glen Childerly. "The hope is that it's a deterrent."

Stratford Mayor Dan Mathieson said: "This is a great response from the
federal government that has been pushed for for the last couple of months.

"Part of the thing is that you never know the mind of someone who uses
drugs or meth for that matter, but this will help police get the drugs and
dealers off the street," he said.

Most of Ontario's 17 meth lab busts over the last two years have been in
Perth, a rural area where the chemicals needed to make the drug --
including anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer -- are easily found and remote
locations abound.

Highly potent, the drug is also relatively cheap to make.

"Judges look at the gravity of the offence and the responsibility of the
offender in determining sentences," Cotler said at a news conference in
Vancouver, in announcing the stiffer penalties.

"We are making a clear statement today about the gravity of the offence and
the responsibility of the offender."

Neither Cotler nor the Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, who joined him for
the announcement, could think of a case where anyone in Canada had been
sentenced to 10 years in jail for a drug offence, let alone life in prison.

But Cotler said that's not what it's about, adding the government's
announcement sends a message to judges, dealers and users.

People working in Vancouver's downtown east side, teeming with addicts
strung out on crystal meth and small-time pushers, were skeptical about the
federal approach.

"Well, it sure worked with heroin and cocaine," said Mark Townsend,
sarcastically. "We don't have any problems with those drugs any more."

Townsend, who works with an organization that houses addicts, said he's
happy Ottawa is paying attention to the crystal meth problem, but doesn't
think it has the solution.

"We're just chasing our tail here. Addiction is ultimately about people's
pain and dealing with that pain," he said.

"In the history of this area, people have used all kinds of things -- Aqua
Velva after-shave, cooking wine. It's not about the stuff or the crystal
meth, it's about the pain and suffering and complex issues that you're
still going to be dealing with."

Incredibly addictive, crystal meth also has side-effects that range from
violent outbursts to psychosis.

"It's not just a substance for abuse. It is a suicide drug," said Dr.
Rosana Pellizzari, Perth's medical officer of health.

"It's a toxin, from start to finish . . . This is big business. I think
this will act as a deterrent for production and distribution," she said of
the harsher penalties.

While the move may not stop adolescents and teenagers from experimenting
with the drug, it will hopefully curtail production, Pellizzari said.

The decision to move the drug to a higher classification comes on the heels
of a federal government proposal to add four substances used to make
crystal meth to a list of controlled chemicals.

The illegal possession of these so-called precursor chemicals for the
purposes of producing meth would become an offence that could lead to a
fine of up to $5,000, up to three years in prison, or both.