Pubdate: Mon, 31 Jan 2005
Source: Paris News (TX)
Copyright: 2005 Paris News
Contact:  http://www.theparisnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/997
Author: Mary Madewell, The Paris News
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

LAWMAKERS WANT TO GET TOUGH ON METH

Legislative help may be on the way to combat the increase in
methamphetamine production, distribution and consumption in the Red
River Valley.

The meth problem is severe and dangerous for both users and law
enforcement officers engaged in the fight to curb the manufacture,
sale and use of the street drug that grows in popularity.

Two lawmakers have filed bills in Austin to curtail the availability
of the solid tablet form of psuedoephedrine and to increase penalties
for meth makers and users.

Psuedoephedrine hydrochloride, found in common cold medications
including Sudafed and Claritin-D, is the key ingredient in
methamphetamine.

State Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, has filed a package of bills
for 79th Texas Legislature consideration. The legislative package
seeks to prohibit over-the-counter sales of tablets containing
psuedoephedrine and increases prison sentences for meth producers,
sellers and users.

"I am declaring war on the methamphetamine epidemic that plagues North
Texas and, indeed, the entire state," Estes said late last year when
filing his package.

SB 107 would prohibit over-the-counter sales of single entity forms of
psuedoephedrine, but would still allow for liquid, gel capsule and
liquid capsule form in which psuedoephedrine is not the only active
ingredient. The bill would fine stores selling such medicine to anyone
not having a prescription.

"It is critical that the Texas Legislature do all we can to eradicate
this terrible drug that destroys lives, ruins families and ravages
communities," Estes said.

State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, filed comprehensive legislation in HB
164 that would restrict the sale of over-the-counter-tablets to
licensed pharmacies only, eliminating sales in convenience stores and
other locations.

Berman's bill calls on pharmacies to become active in self-regulation
and requires that tablets containing pseudoephedrine be taken off open
shelves and that strict records be kept by wholesale distributors as
well as at the point of purchase.

Similar to a law passed last year in Oklahoma, the bill would require
buyers to show photo identification and sign for the purchase. The
bill limits sales by a pharmacy to any one person to 9 grams of
pseudoephedrine in a 30-day period.

HB 164 also calls for the establishment of a state methamphetamine
watch program to inform retailers of the problems associated with the
illicit manufacture and use of methamphetamine in the Lone Star State.

Under Berman's proposal, the Department of State Health Services would
establish procedures and develop forms for retailers and other persons
to use in reporting incidents of theft, suspicious purchases or other
transactions involving products used in "cooking" meth.

Those products include red phosphorus, anhydrous ammonia, alcohol,
methanol, iodine, lye, sulfuric acid, muriatic acid and lithium or
sodium wire.

The health department would also be called upon to develop programs to
increase awareness and to assist local communities in addressing
problems created by meth use.

Berman's bill also calls on the criminal justice division of the
governor's office to assist public and private organizations to engage
in initiatives to support the methamphetamine watch program.

District 1 state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, supports his fellow
senator's efforts but said that he worked closely with fellow Tyler
lawmaker Berman in developing HB 164.

"I fully support the effort and will do everything to see that we get
something in place," Eltife said. "We want to do whatever it takes to
put a stop to this wholesale production of methamphetamine."

Both Berman's bill and Estes' package increase criminal penalties for
the manufacture, distribution or use of methamphetamine.

SB 108 enhances penalties. Current law punishes violations of less
than 1 gram with a mandatory state jail felony which, in most cases
translates into automatic probation.

"My proposed legislation is much tougher and would redefine these
offenses as third-degree felonies punishable by prison sentences
served in the state penitentiary," Estes said.

SB 110 is aimed at punishing anyone associated with the manufacture or
distribution, not just the "meth cooks."

"This is targeted at any conspirators who are involved in cooking a
batch of meth," Estes said. "It covers everything from people helping
collect the ingredients to someone who rents a motel room where meth
is being cooked in a makeshift lab. We need to enlarge the net to
catch and punish anyone playing any part in these criminal
activities," Estes said.

SB 109 would enhance penalties if a child younger than 18 years old is
present on the premises where meth is produced or distributed.

"We, as a society, must get serious about eradicating methamphetamine
and the toll it continues to take in our homes, in our schools, and in
places of work," Estes said. "It continues to play a major role in
child abuse and neglect, and it fuels property and identity theft crimes."

Critics of Estes' proposal to increase criminal penalties say that
incarcerating more drug users would overload Texas prisons already on
track to exceed capacity before the 80th Legislature meets in 2007.

But Estes says increased penalties are necessary to curb the meth
epidemic.

"The methamphetamine drug culture is, without question, the most
pressing crime problem facing our state, and it's time for the Texas
Legislature to pass some tough, new laws to fight this serious war."
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