Pubdate: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2012 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.calgarysun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Nadia Moharib Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) DRUG AMNESTY EYED Calgary cops are considering offering an ecstasy amnesty in the wake of a rash of recent deaths. As members of the Calgary Police Commission met Tuesday, Commissioner Charles Pratt raised the possibility of offering an amnesty to quell a spate of fatal overdoses linked to a tainted version of the party drug. Noting the money-making drug is clearly lining peoples' pockets, Pratt questioned whether an amnesty would be a way to get some of the deadly drugs off the streets before there are more victims. Calgary police drug unit Staff Sgt. Mike Bossley said the issue is currently being discussed to compliment a high-profile public education campaign focussing on steering potential users away from ecstasy that may have the presence of PMMA, a compound linked to most of the deaths. It is something we are discussing =85 if it would be appropriate and whether it would be applicable here,=93 he said. Cops have linked nine deaths to ecstasy in the city and surrounding area since June 2011 =AD with the bulk of those since the end of December =AD and testing has found PMMA in seven of the victims. RCMP in Alberta and B.C. have also linked several recent deaths to variations of the drug known as E. Saying people are being encouraged to =93destroy the drugs=94 in whatever way possible, Bossley said officials are aware other law enforcement agencies have considered the amnesty option, adding there are legal considerations and a decision on that front will likely be made in upcoming weeks. The choice was an easy one for police in Abottsford, a community of about 137,000 in B.C. Contending with a death on Dec. 22 of a teen in the community, who claimed to take ecstasy to lose weight, the decision at the behest of the chief was made to offer to dispose of the drugs, no questions asked. Abbottsford police spokesman, Const. Ian MacDonald, said there hasn't been a rush on people coming forward, although some has been turned in. We do not want to target users,=94 he said Tuesday. I would be hesitant in calling it an amnesty, it hasn't been formalized in any way but if they want assistance in disposal of it, if there is a preference of no questions asked, we would be happy to be in receipt of it. We want to keep people alive.=94 He said the second objective is =93to go after the sources=94 and suppliers. Saying ecstasy =93is killing people,=93 Bossley said Calgary police are pushing the message that anyone taking the drug is gambling with their life while urging parents to talk to their children about perils associated with the drug. He would not discuss details of an investigation into who is supplying the drug in Calgary. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom