BILL TARGETS DRUG LABS

Legislators Hear Tales Of Methamphetamine Made With Ingredients From
Discount Stores

A $50 investment at the local drug store is all that's needed to produce an
ounce of methamphetamine, lawmakers trying to stop Colorado's explosion of
the illegal labs were told Wednesday.

A bill making it a felony to possess certain cold medicine and other
products with the intent to brew methamphetamine had strong backing from
police chiefs, sheriffs and the district attorneys' association.

"It's unusual for me to carry a bill that creates more prison beds," said
Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, the bill's sponsor. "But this is one of the
highest priorities of law enforcement in the state right now.

"My son, a senior in high school, has friends who are addicted to it. It's
a very terrible, very addictive drug."

Police and prosecutors told Senate committee members that meth labs were a
major problem throughout the state, not only because of the drug, but also
the potential for explosions and the hazardous waste they produce.

"Right now you can purchase anything you need at Wal-Mart and K-Mart for as
little as $50 to create an ounce of methamphetamine," said Terry Curry, a
detective sergeant with the El Paso County Sheriff's Department and a
member of a metro anti-drug team.

Gordon delayed a vote on SB 50 until Monday to work on an amendment, but it
appeared likely the measure will be sent to the Senate Appropriations
Committee.

The bill's price tag of nearly $750,000 over two years could be a big
stumbling block, supporters admitted.

The bill makes it a class 3 felony punishable by four to 12 years in prison
and a fine of $3,000 to $750,000 to possess pseudoephedrine or
phenylpropanolamine, principally cold medications, with intent to
manufacture methamphetamine.

Thornton Police Sgt. Jim Gerhardt, a member of the North Metro Drug Task
Force, said police were in a Thornton home on a drug lab bust as he was
testifying. Another crew was cleaning up waste dumped from a meth lab in
Adams County.

Denver Police spokesman Tony Lombard said there were two incidents
involving meth labs in the city on Tuesday, one in a motel room and the
other in a home where a lab exploded and caught fire.

"We had nine (labs) in 1999," Lombard said. "We had 22 in 2000 and 38 in
2001 for a three-year total of 69. And we've had five this year so far,
three of which were house fires with two deaths and two people burned with
second degree burns."