METH LAWS WILL HELP: POLICE

Tougher new laws to combat methamphetamine -- crystal meth -- are bound to
help, even if you feel cynical about the justice system, according to an
RCMP officer.

Const. Craig Douglass, one of four drug awareness co-ordinators for
northern B.C., is pleased to hear the federal government has beefed up the
consequences for those who possess, traffic and produce crystal meth. Now
the maximum sentences are equal to those of cocaine, heroin and other hard
drugs classified under Schedule One of the Controlled Drugs and Substances
Act and Canadian Criminal Code. Until now meth had been part of the softer
Schedule Three substances, but as its drastic effects were discovered, the
outcry from law enforcement was strong to have it ranked among the worst.

"It rightfully should be a Schedule One substance," Douglass said. "It is
the worst drug out there, as far as I'm concerned. Cocaine and heroin are
bad drugs, no doubt, but meth is worse in many respects. It is half the
price, lasts 10 times as long, brings on way more psychological problems,
the suicide rate among meth users is higher than cocaine and heroin because
the crash of meth is so bad it is said that you just don't want to go
through it. It's relatively new, but it has become a dominant drug."

Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh and Justice Minister Irwin Cotler
introduced the new penalties on Thursday, cranking up the maximum sentence
for production and distribution from 10 years in prison to life in prison.
Possession has gone from three years in jail up to seven years. Douglass
says these are for the most extreme of cases, but an overall jump in the
drug's classification will have an overall effect, he believes, in the
courtroom.

"It certainly is good news," he said. "Will the meth problem go away? No.
Drug dealers will probably not miss a beat because of this. It might even
entice them to use younger or more street involved people as a shield in
their illegal activities. But it should still, no matter what, have an
effect. We may not see the top of the scale but it should move things up a
notch."

Coincidentally, Douglass is the keynote speaker next Thursday at a forum on
the crystal meth issue, hosted by the Community Planning Council. The
invitees include civic officials, social leaders, key public servants and
others who have an influence in the public. Call Lynn Florey at 562-2667
for information on the forum.

Douglass says the public is the main stakeholder in the issue. If the
public refuses to tolerate meth, and drug use in general, there is a
tangible momentum helping police deal with it on the street.