Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO) Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371 Author: John Sanko, News Capitol Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) 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." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager