PROVINCE LOOKS TO RESTRICT SALES OF COLD REMEDIES

Part Of Crackdown On Crystal Meth

COLD pills and certain herbal medicines could soon be harder to come by as
the province works to crack down on the production of crystal meth.

Pressed by the opposition during question period yesterday, Attorney
General Gord Mackintosh acknowledged his department is pursuing a law that
would restrict sales of products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine,
the main ingredient in the highly addictive street drug.

"We've been doing intensive research on the options around this,"
Mackintosh said.

Crystal methamphetamine is a central-nervous-system stimulant often
referred to on the street as "speed" or "crank," and is considered to be
one of the most highly addictive drugs available. Some studies have found
more than 90 per cent of first-time users become addicted.

It is often more popular than cocaine or heroine because it can easily be
made in anybody's kitchen, using popular over-the-counter cold remedies or
many products sold in health food stores that contain ephedrine.

Ephedrine is widely used for weight loss, as an energy booster or to
enhance athletic performance. Pseudoephedrine is found in most nasal
decongestants, including cold pills and allergy medications. Mackintosh
said the legislation would be introduced this year, but said it's not clear
yet what the law will look like. It could force pharmacies and other
retailers of products containing ephedrine to keep the products behind the
counter, but could also go much further, asking consumers to show photo ID
and sign for the products, applying an age limit, and even barring certain
types of retailers, such as corner stores, from selling the products.

Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said Mackintosh has waited too long
already. Goertzen said he wants legislation introduced as soon as possible.

"We've been waiting for six years," Goertzen said. "As the problem of meth
grows across the country, all jurisdictions are going to be looking at
this, so let's get ahead of the process. Let's save the lives of young
people now."

British Columbia and Alberta are also looking at such a law, but no
Canadian province has passed one yet. There are 35 states that have passed
or are in the process of passing such a law.

In Oklahoma, where a law passed last year pulling the products behind the
counter and banning bulk purchases, police found an 80-per-cent reduction
in meth-lab stings, the first time in eight years that state had seen a
reduction in the crystal-meth problem.

Mackintosh noted, however, that restricting ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
sales is only one component of a strategy to combat crystal-meth addiction
and trafficking.