LEGISLATIVE PANEL ON METH PUNTS ISSUE TO GOVERNOR

NASHVILLE - A special legislative committee appointed to study dozens of
bills and find a solution to the spread of methamphetamine and its
devastating impact on families essentially gave up Monday.

Committee members could not reach a consensus on the best approach. They
knew that money to enact most of the proposals - which would increase jail
time for users and producers - would be tough to find.

They voted to ask Gov. Phil Bredesen to work with the Legislature to create
a task force that could spend more time on the issue and recommend a
comprehensive solution in January.

Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, who proposed some of the legislation, was
not pleased with the outcome. He said waiting a year "without notable
progress will be more devastating than you can imagine."