TASK FORCE PROPOSES TOUGHER METH PENALTIES

NASHVILLE - A state task force has recommended creating new penalties for
methamphetamine crimes and strengthening those already on the books to help
combat Tennessee's growing problem with the illegal stimulant. The
Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse met Friday to vote on about
three dozen preliminary recommendations before presenting them to Gov. Phil
Bredesen later in the day.

"I'm very pleased with it. There's a lot of meat in this report," Bredesen
said. "We're not going to solve the problem overnight, but identifying smart
strategies is a start."

Methamphetamine, an addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous
system, is produced in clandestine laboratories across the state with
relatively cheap over-the-counter ingredients.

The task force was charged with finding the best way to address its growth
in Tennessee, which the federal Drug Enforcement Administration estimates is
home to three-quarters of the meth labs in the Southeast. The panel consists
of 20 representatives from a range of fields, including law enforcement,
health care, education and human services, as well as 12 ex-officio members
who provide general advice to the group. "There are no magic bullets out
there," said Ken Givens, the task force chairman and state agriculture
commissioner. "But we do have the framework of what we think it will take to
make a difference, and then we can make adjustments where we need to."

The recommendations fell under seven categories: Set tougher criminal
penalties.

Address contamination caused by clandestine meth labs. Help children harmed
by meth manufacturing and abuse. Improve coordination between federal, state
and local officials. Increase funding for meth treatment with an eye toward
long-term initiatives.

Educate people about the dangers of meth abuse. Limit the availability of
materials used to illegally make meth. In the case of stricter law
enforcement, the task force said the state should establish a clear
definition of "methamphetamine manu-facturing." Doing so, it said, would
close a loophole providing for lighter penalties in the cases in which meth
cooks claim they are manufacturing the drug only for personal use.

The restrictions on materials used to manufacture meth prompted the most
debate Friday.

Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant commonly found in over-the-counter cold and
sinus remedies, is considered the main ingredient used to make meth. At
least 11 states nationwide have placed restrictions on the sale of products
containing pseudoephedrine.

The task force wants Tennessee to follow suit by requiring nearly all
products containing the drug to be sold only behind the counter in licensed
pharmacies. Some products with pseudoephedrine, such as liquid or gel caps,
would be exempted because they can't easily be used to produce meth. But
many pharmacists don't like the idea of keeping pseudoephedrine products
behind their counters because they say it puts them at risk of being robbed.
Bredesen is expected to push for legislation to enact the recommendations
when the General Assembly reconvenes next year.