Pubdate: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 Source: Columbian, The (WA) Copyright: 2006 The Columbian Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.columbian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92 Author: Tina Imdieke Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH BILL LONG OVERDUE Methamphetamine has ravaged our community and put severe strains on local and state agencies. Meth has destroyed families, made parents neglect and abandon their innocent babies and children. Meth has not done anything positive for our community. Finally, an anti-meth bill has been approved by the Senate and attached to the U.S. Patriot Act, a centerpiece of the president's war on terrorism. At last meth has been placed where it belongs, as an immediate threat to our national security. This disease is eating our society from within. By adding this legislation to the Patriot Act we have escalated this cancer in American society from a petty drug crime to its appropriate position as an act of domestic terrorism. This legislation addresses domestic meth sales and the international monitoring of one of the key ingredients in meth, pseudoephedrine. It increases penalties against meth cooks and traffickers, and provides more funding for state and local agencies dealing with this epidemic. The thing I appreciate the most is the authorization for the "Meth Hot Spots" grant programs. This program provides for federal assistance to the endangered children and families affected by meth. Tina Imdieke Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman