Pubdate: Sat, 31 May 2003 Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2003 Contact: http://www2.odt.co.nz Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925 Author: NZPA Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) SPEED MERCHANTS FACE LIFE JAIL TERM Wellington - Sentences of life imprisonment can be imposed on drug dealers selling methamphetamine after a reclassification on the drug came into effect yesterday. Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said importers, manufacturers and suppliers of methamphetamine, commonly known as speed, could face life imprisonment as the drug was now rated class A under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The step was part of the Government's Methamphetamine Action Plan to address the growing methamphetamine problem across New Zealand. "While dabbling in other drugs might impair people's performances, methamphetamine is pure evil and can have permanent, serious physical and psychological effects on individuals while creating havoc in families and communities," Mr Anderton said in a statement. The new status meant life imprisonment could be imposed for importing, manufacturing and supplying the drug. It also gave police stronger powers as they could search and seize without a warrant where they had reasonable suspicion that the drug was present. Mr Anderton said the action plan included greater search and seizure powers for Police and powers for Customs to seize unlicensed imports of the ingredients for methamphetamine, improved community education and more comprehensive drug monitoring surveillance data to support enforcement. Meanwhile, police have commissioned Massey University to investigate the effect of the increased use of speed and similar drugs such as ecstasy in New Zealand. The university's centre of social and health outcomes research evaluation has been given $150,000 to do the work. Lead researcher Chris Wilkins said the project was the first to quantify the effect amphetamine-type stimulant drugs were having in New Zealand, the size and value of the market, provide some indication of the effectiveness of enforcement strategies and the level of criminal activity related to their use. It would also look at ways to deal with the criminal offences associated with the drugs, model the potential effect of the drugs in future and develop police responses to speed-related offending and victimisation. Dr Wilkins said the work should be completed by mid-2004. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager