Pubdate: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://www.pentictonherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664 Author: The Canadian Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH PUSHERS NOW FACE LIFE IN JAIL VANCOUVER -- Penalties for possessing, making and trafficking crystal meth - -- a drug called the poor man's cocaine -- were increased Thursday by the federal government, but it's a strategy that a frontline social worker says has proved worthless in the fight against cocaine and heroin The stiffer sentences on methamphetamine, known as crystal meth, are now in line with offences associated with heroin and cocaine Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said specially designated prosecutors will also deal with the most serious cases and will speak to judges in sentencing about the corrosive, poisonous nature of the drug and how it destroys lives "Judges look at the gravity of the offence and the responsibility of the offender in determining sentences," Cotler told a news conference in Vancouver "We are making a clear statement today about the gravity of the offence and the responsibility of the offender." The maximum penalty for production and distribution has increased to life in prison from 10 years. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth