CHEAP SPEED 'JUST AN IDEA'

Govt Won't Flood Market To Kill Trade

The government will not go "so far" as to produce cheap methamphetamine to
put the mainstream dealers out of business, Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra has said.

He maintained that flooding the market with fake speed pills was merely an
idea. If this was ever to happen, a most thorough consideration would first
be required.

"But we [the government] won't be making the speed pills," he said.

The premier conceded, however, that studies from various countries had been
undertaken on substituting the narcotics with less harmful drugs. But he
ruled out the possibility of such an approach any time soon.

The government was reviewing its anti-drug strategy at a meeting on Monday
when the fake speed pill proposal was floated. It was argued the pills
would be low quality to deter users while the under-cutting of prices would
wipe out the illicit methamphetamine business.

Mr Thaksin said the idea was "still flowing in the air".

The prime minister, on the other hand, was fully supportive of using assets
seized from substance trading to finance drug-busting campaigns.

He was aware of the shortage of state funding for anti-drug efforts and
said the money to fund suppression operation should come from the
traffickers' pocket.

Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun said the issue had been discussed for
some time but it was imperative that an in-depth study be conducted first.

Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said turning out fake pills to
compete with the mainstream drugs was easier said than done. The pros and
cons had to be carefully weighed up.

Meanwhile, most Bangkok residents surveyed are against legalising casinos
and siting them in Pattaya, according to a Dhurakij Bundit Poll.

Of those polled, 53% were against the idea, while almost 36% favoured it.

The survey was made in the Bangkok area on Aug 18-19. There were 1,528
respondents.