MPS CONSIDER MOVES TO INCREASE PENALITIES FOR SPEED

Increasing the criminal penalties for methamphetamine use would help
educate about the drug's dangers, MPs were told today.

The health select committee was considering the Government's move to
reclassify methamphetamine - known as speed - from a class B drug to class A.

Those offending at the top end of the scale, importing or manufacturing for
supply, could face life imprisonment, up from the current 14-year maximum.

Those convicted of conspiracy to commit an offence could face 14 years'
prison, up from 10 years, while those caught in possession of the drug
could be imprisoned for six months, and/or fined $1000 - up from the
current three months jail and/or $500 fine.

Anyone possessing more than 5g - equivalent to around 30 to 50 doses of the
drug - could be charged with possession for supply.

MPs were told the drug was dangerous to those who used it and to society.
While a wider education campaign was being looked at, reclassification
would "send a strong message that these substances are harmful and it is
not in the public interest for them to be used as a 'recreational' drugs,"
ministry officials told the committee.

The new classification would also provide police with further powers of
search and seizure without warrant in cases where they suspect speed is
being used.

Statistics released yesterday showed that crimes linked to speed jumped 28
per cent last year. Police closed down 147 speed labs last year.

MPs questioned whether more controls should be placed on cold drugs sold at
pharmacy. Drugs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine can be used to
manufacture varieties of speed.

Officials said forcing people to go to a doctor to get a prescription for
cold medicines would force unfair costs on the majority of people who used
the drugs responsibility.

Even if the local production of speed was reduced there were large amounts
of the drug available overseas that could fill the market here.

A report by officials said that purer forms of speed known as 'pure' or
'crystal meth' were becoming more of a problem.

The committee is also considering the Government's plans to classify a
number of other drugs due to international treaty commitments.

These were:

* Methcathinone - an anti-depressant widely misused in Russia and in parts
of the USA. To be classified as a class B drug.

* 4-MTA - Commonly called 'flatliner'. It is a drug similar to, but more
powerful, than MDMA or ecstasy and used in Europe. To be classified as class B.

* Aminorex - A medicine used to stimulate the nervous system known as
'U-4-E-uh' (pronounced euphoria) in the United States. To be classified as
class C.

None of these drugs are known to be present widely in New Zealand.