New law not heavy enough. Creative solutions needed.
Date: Wednesday, August 17 @ 12:43:11 PDT
Topic: Enforcement
Nanaimo News Bulletin, 16-Aug-2005
A federal crackdown on crystal meth pushers isn't harsh enough.
People - youth, especially - must be educated on how deadly this drug is, and how insidious.
Last week federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh announced that the maximum jail sentence for production, trafficking, importing or exporting methamphetamine - crystal meth - will rise to life in prison from 10 years.
This new law puts crystal meth on the same level as heroin and cocaine in terms of punishment.
In terms of how this announcement will affect the scourge swiftly encroaching on our society, though, it's merely a baby step.
Crystal meth is becoming the designer drug of the West Coast. It is cheap, gives a longer high and experts agree it is one of the most addictive street drugs.
However, our addiction recovery centres are ill-equipped to handle its nasty withdrawal symptoms.
Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder said Dosanjh should have come out with stricter minimum sentences, and on this point we agree. Crowder said education is a must, but then backtracked, saying that's really a provincial government responsibility. She said the federal government 'could provide incentives' to the provinces.
A wishy-washy stance, considering Crowder is the NDP's health critic.
This isn't about money: it's about coming up with innovative ways to deal with the problem.
The federal government must take steps to eradicate crystal meth from all levels of society. Forget the fence-sitting. Forget the finger-pointing. The feds have dictated where the provinces must spend certain funding in the past, and it is time for them to do it again.
People - youth, especially - must be educated on how deadly this drug is, and how insidious.
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