Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jan 2005 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: James Wood FEDS NEED TOUGHER STANCE ON NEW DRUG: QUENNELL REGINA -- Saskatchewan wants the federal government to take a harder line on crystal meth. Justice Minister Frank Quennell said Thursday the provincial government has for some time been calling on the federal government to make changes to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that would include moving crystal meth from its current status as a Schedule 3 drug. Making it a Schedule 1 or 2 drug would allow a maximum sentence of life in prison for possession and trafficking while Schedule 3 drugs only allow a 10-year maximum sentence. "I wouldn't expect there would necessarily be the maximum sentence imposed very often but the maximum sentence controls the sentences that are given in proportion to the offence. I believe crystal meth deserves to be treated as seriously as other drugs on other schedules," Quennell told reporters at the provincial legislature Thursday. The severity of sentencing for possession and trafficking became an issue in a Regina court case when the federal Crown prosecutor asked for a jail term for a Regina man that would reflect the danger of the highly-addictive drug. The case wrapped up Thursday with the judge declining to address the issue and staying within existing sentencing guidelines. The Opposition Saskatchewan Party, critical of the province for the way it addresses the crystal meth issue, has also said the federal government needs to change its laws on meth. Quennell said he was sending a letter to federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler today and he expects the issue to be discussed at a meeting of the federal and provincial justice ministers at the end of the month. Quennell said the province also wants changes to other federal regulations to better track the sale of large amounts of the ingredients used to make crystal meth. "And we need to have a federal system, because it's federal legislation, so that people will become aware through business that if there are purchases of significant amounts of these precursors that they have an office to report it to and there's a centralized system of keeping track of these sales," he said. Methamphetamine is made in illegal labs by cooking up various chemicals and pharmaceuticals, including over-the-counter cold medicine. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth