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.
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MAP posted-by: Beth