Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jun 2003
Source: Drayton Valley Western Review (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 Bowes Publishers Limited
Contact:  http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/980
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HAMDON LEADS CHARGE AGAINST METH

Drayton Valley Western Review -- Mayor Moe Hamdon is spearheading a 
nationwide proposal that would see the federal government make it illegal 
to possess large quantities of chemicals that go into the drug known as 
crystal meth.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities sent the resolution to the 
government of Canada that outlined some areas in need of federal 
legislation so municipalities could have effective tools to fight the drug 
problem.

"Meth is the drug of choice in Drayton Valley and is very difficult for us 
to keep on top of," said Hamdon. "We need clear legislation that can give 
us something to work with."

He says that in order to adequately control distribution and prosecute 
offenders the legislation must include the ability to criminally prosecute 
those suspected of manufacturing the drug.

There needs to be a classification system for all chemicals, pure or 
rendered from legitimate product, required to make methamphetamine (known 
as Class A Precursors). Then, the government should have some way to 
monitor those classified chemicals, says Hamdon. Stricter regulations and 
an administrative system would create an environment that would make it 
easier for monitoring agencies to track and determine the legitimacy of 
precursor chemicals.

"It's frustrating for police when they go into a meth lab and there isn't 
any meth there but there is large amounts of chemicals used to make meth 
and they can't do anything because it's not illegal to possess the 
chemicals," said Hamdon. "We need to give them (police) the tools to be 
able to do something and be able to bust people for having chemicals."

Hamdon says if the penalty and consequences of creating a meth lab were 
increased, people would think twice about starting one up. "One of the 
reasons it's the drug of choice is because it's cheap. If we decrease the 
amount of places people can get meth and increase the costs maybe they will 
think twice," said Hamdon.

Word came from the U.S. about 10 years ago to warn the Canadian government 
the drug could be entering the country and would have devastating effects. 
The U.S. does have laws in place to regulate the sale of pseudophedrin, 
acetone, red phosphorus and hydriodic acid - all chemicals used to produce 
methamphetamines.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities warns that Canadian 
municipalities are becoming prime shopping territory for American meth 
producers looking for chemicals because they are not restricted in Canada.

In 2000 Canada imported more than 500,000 kilograms of pseudophedrine, a 
major ingredient in methamphetamine, a 500 per cent increase from the year 
before.

The work for the proposal started two or three years ago when it was first 
realized that meth was the drug of choice, says Hamdon. "We're just 
building our case now. We've got the research done and the desire to have 
the legislation is there, we're just strengthening our case with the feds," 
said Hamdon. "We need to put the weight of all municipalities behind us and 
need the support of all the communities. The best defence is an educated 
community."

The meth problem blew up in Drayton Valley about two years ago when the 
drug started trickling in from B.C., said Kevin Fisher, counsellor 
supervisor for the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission in Drayton Valley.

Fisher says the drug is appealing to users because instead of partying hard 
for one night, they can party hard for several days in a row. It's also 
appealing because people in town work long hard hours and use the extra 
stimulant to increase performance, said Fisher.
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