Task force proposes tougher meth rules
OLYMPIA – A state task force has generated several ideas on how to fight methamphetamine use in the state, including making it a crime to possess large quantities of precursor chemicals used to make the highly addictive drug.
The 28-member task force, called Operation: Allied Against Meth, was appointed in August by state Attorney General Rob McKenna.
A preliminary report was released to the Associated Press on Monday; a final review and recommendation will be made at a public hearing Wednesday.
The task force includes state and local law enforcement officials, prosecutors, business and community representatives, treatment providers and elected officials.
Recommendations from the group – which split into three subcommittees to deal with cleanup, prevention and criminal sanctions – will be rolled into an omnibus bill to be introduced in next year’s legislative session.
Among the recommendations made by the task force subcommittees:
“Creating a crime, separate from manufacturing, for possession of large quantities of precursor chemicals used in the meth manufacturing process.
“Seeking state parity with Oregon and Idaho on penalties so meth traffickers and cooks don’t move back and forth across state lines to avoid stricter sanctions.
“Reducing time off for good behavior from 50 percent to 33 percent for offenders sentenced under the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative.
“Proposing support for adults who are victims of drug manufacturing in their homes and possible exemptions in current forfeiture-of-homes law due to drug manufacturing when an elderly adult is an innocent victim.
“Pushing for secure funding for state and local health departments to ensure that cleanup of meth labs occurs.
“This is not a quick fix,” McKenna said. “These are longer-term approaches. This problem didn’t pop up overnight, so it’s going to require a sustained effort to beat it.”
Washington state ranks near the top of the country in the number of meth labs raided annually even though the state Department of Ecology reported a slight decline in the number of labs discovered last year.
The department received reports of 1,337 methamphetamine lab sites across the state last year, a 9.6 percent decrease from 2003 when 1,480 sites were reported.
The decrease this year has been even greater. To date, the department has received reports of only 738 labs.
“It’s a pretty good drop from last year,” said Steve Hunter, a policy analyst at the Department of Ecology. But “it doesn’t speak to the level of use. That’s just a description of local manufacturing dropping, not the addiction of citizens.”
The highest concentration of meth labs was in Pierce, King, Snohomish and Thurston counties.
Meth is a highly addictive stimulant cooked from various chemicals. The chemicals are corrosive, carcinogenic and flammable, and they produce toxic gases.
A measure signed into law this year aims to restrict access to methamphetamine ingredients by forcing stores to keep many cold and allergy medications behind pharmacy counters.
The ingredients – pseudoephedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanoline – are found in nonprescription cold and allergy medications.
Store clerks are required to ask for photo identification to ensure that people purchasing the medications are at least 18 years old. The ID and new storage requirements took effect Oct. 1.
Customers are limited to buying no more than two packages in a 24-hour period. Under previous law, three could be bought in that time frame. That portion of the law took effect in July.
Starting Jan. 1, stores must keep a log of who buys the products to help law enforcement agencies identify people buying the medications in large quantities.
In July, McKenna announced the hiring of two new assistant attorneys general to work with local county prosecutors to prosecute meth-related crimes.