Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jul 2007
Source: Red River Valley Echo, The (CN MB)
Copyright: 2007 Altona Red River Valley Echo
Contact:  http://www.altonaecho.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4006
Author: Greg Vandermeulen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

MP WANTS METH CRACKDOWN

Portage-Lisgar MP Brian Pallister is championing a private members 
bill, to create new offences for production and possession of 
"precursor" chemicals used to make the drugs.

The tools they need

Put forward by a Conservative colleague, Pallister said the bill will 
give police the tools they need to deal with what he calls a growing 
problem, and not one restricted to big cities. "Crystal Meth is 
having a disastrous effect on our rural communities," he said. "This 
bill will help to curb the harmful effects of this drug, especially 
on our young people."

The bill will establish a new offence prohibiting the possession of 
Class A precursors for the purpose of producing methamphetamine.

It will develop a new offence prohibiting the production and 
trafficking of Class A precursors. It will also create a new offence 
prohibiting the possession of equipment, chemicals and other 
materials for producing methamphetamine and create a new offence 
prohibiting the sale of equipment, chemicals and other materials for 
the same purpose.

Hard to catch dealers

Pallister said it can be difficult to nab Crystal Meth dealers and producers.

"Because of its low cost of production, the drug dealers who make 
Crystal Meth are hard to identify and track," he said. "By creating 
new offences that target 'precursor' materials used to produce this 
drug, we can begin to attack this growing problem at the source."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom