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.
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