Pubdate: Tue, 03 May 2005
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2005 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76
Author: Lawrence Messina, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

MANCHIN SIGNS METH, 'HEALTHY LIFESTYLES' BILLS

Gov. Joe Manchin signed legislation keeping soft drinks out of
elementary, middle and junior high schools during school hours, but
said he wished the bill had gone farther.

Manchin also signed a second bill from his successful legislative
agenda, a measure that aims to crack down on makeshift methamphetamine
labs. Both bills take effect July 8.

Though he introduced the Healthy Lifestyles Act, the governor said its
provision addressing soda pop in schools reflected a compromise
between dueling interests.

Manchin's methamphetamine bill (SB147) makes it a crime to possess
such chemicals as iodine at a concentration greater than 1.5 percent
and anhydrous ammonia with the intent to make the drug. It also bars
the purchase of more than three packages per month of any
over-the-counter medicine containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or
phenylpropanolamine as its single active ingredient.

Manchin said he modeled his bill on Oklahoma legislation credited with
reducing the number of meth labs there by 60 percent.

The bill threatens a felony charge against anyone who makes or tries
to make meth where children are present. The new crime carries a one-
to five-year prison term.

As amended, the bill also creates a new felony offense for meth makers
when police, firefighters or other "first responders" are injured by a
makeshift, toxic drug lab. According to the U.S. Office of National
Drug Control Policy, the production of one pound of methamphetamine
releases poisonous gas into the atmosphere and creates five to seven
pounds of toxic waste.

Between October and mid-February, the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration ordered 115 methamphetamine labs to be cleaned up in
West Virginia, up from a total of 62 labs over the same period a year
ago. In all of 2000, the DEA registered just three clandestine labs in
the state.

Though the number of small clandestine labs has surged over the last
decade, "superlabs" in California and Mexico produce 80 percent of
methamphetamine on the market, Stateline.org reported last month.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin