Pubdate: Fri, 20 Feb 2004
Source: Fort Saskatchewan Record, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004 The Fort Saskatchewan Record
Contact:  http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/824
Author: Chris Munkedal
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

'MAKE PRECURSORS ILLEGAL'-MOUNTIE

Buying the "precursors" to make Crystal Meth is not illegal, nor is 
possessing them, but an RCMP constable is still penning a letter to local 
businesses warning of big precursor purchases.

"It's not illegal to have all the products, but once you screw around with 
them and make meth, then it's illegal," said Const. Helen Meinzinger, 
spokesperson for the Fort RCMP detachment.

She hopes writing a letter to local businesses capable of selling the 
precursor products will be one way to make store owners, and clerks aware 
of what a customer may be up to when buying excess amounts of the products.

Meinzinger brought the letter to the attention of the Fort Saskatchewan 
Drug Awareness Steering Committee Wednesday for critique and to ask their 
opinions on how to go about sending out the letters.

City coordinator for community development, Gail Steeves said she can 
supply RCMP with a list of businesses who have licenses in the Fort.

In the states, businesses are allowed to give out license plate numbers, 
and the names of customers whom they may suspect are buying large precursor 
products to manufacture meth. "But obviously our laws concerning privacy 
are different here," she said. "And whether or not businesses should be 
allowed to do that in here, could be overstepping the boundaries-I don't know."

So, for now it's simply a matter of keeping the community awareness at the 
forefront of everyone's minds, she said.

"Maybe that's where the Crime Stoppers tips can come into play," she said.

Ultimately it would be good to make some of the precursors like ephedrine, 
which is used in cold remedy products, a prescription drug, Meinzinger told 
the Fort Record. "Why not make products like Sudafed a behind the counter 
drug or make it so a person has to ask a pharmacist for it. When someone 
goes in to buy a case of the stuff, a clerk is going to know something odd 
is happening."

Solicitor general Heather Forsyth is pushing for a federal change to 
precursor control regulations.

The solicitor's spokesperson Terry Jorden said staff is currently analyzing 
drug control laws, while looking for "gaps or loopholes" so they can amend 
regulations. Meinzinger said putting strict precursor laws in place would 
definitely help officers lay charges against individuals who possess large 
quantities of all the elements used in making the "highly damaging and 
addictive drug" Crystal Meth.

The local detachment reports only one incident last year, where a suspected 
meth lab had the precursor ingredients, but no charges were laid because no 
product was found.

"Even if it was made a little more difficult to get the ingredients, it may 
slow down the production," said Meinzinger.

Precursors include cold remedy or ephedrine products, chemicals and 
solvents, plus apparatus material used like propane tanks, coolers, rubber 
tubing, and funnels.

Even if a store can't exactly take down a person's name because they think 
the individual is buying the excess quantities of the aforementioned 
products to make meth, RCMP still encourage anyone to report any type of 
related suspicious activity.

"We certainly believe a key element is controlling the precursors," said 
Jorden.

RCMP announced in September 2003, a $3.46 million initiative, funding five 
full-time officers over five years, to hunt down potential drug labs. The 
funding became available this past January.

"They'll hunt down potential drug labs," said Cpl. Wayne Oakes, media 
relations for Alberta RCMP headquarters, 'K' Division. "Today it's meth, 
but who knows what tomorrow will bring."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom