House
to
Take
Up
Anti-Meth
Bill
--
Penalties
Increased,
Internet
Freedoms
Restricted
1/9/00
(from the Drug Policy Foundation's Network News, http://www.dpf.org) When Congress reconvenes on Jan. 24, the House of Representatives is expected to debate S.486, the DEFEAT Meth Act, which passed in the Senate by a voice vote on Nov. 19. Sponsored by John Ashcroft (R-MO), the measure would stiffen penalties for illegal production of both amphetamine and methamphetamine, prohibit the posting of drug recipes on the Internet, and increase funding for law enforcement. The bill directs the Federal Sentencing Commission to increase the penalties for amphetamine so that they are comparable to those for methamphetamine. S. 486 would increase penalties if an offense involving either drug created a "substantial risk of harm to human life" or the environment. The measure would ban any drug "recipes" or drug paraphernalia from being posted, sold, or advertised on the Internet -- this includes phone numbers or addresses posted for drug purchases. In addition, the bill would make it illegal to provide any information online about any Schedule I controlled substance, and would hold Internet service providers liable for not removing a site that includes information about any Schedule I controlled substance. S. 486 would provide additional funding for federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations. The legislation would authorize $30 million for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); $25 million per year for law enforcement in "high-intensity trafficking areas;" and $25 million per year for prevention, interdiction, and studies of the law's effectiveness. Treatment provision included A substitute amendment was added from other drug legislation (S. 324) which was designed to increase the availability of treatment. The measure would establish a program that would allow qualified doctors to prescribe federally regulated, anti-addiction drugs without an additional DEA registration, providing that certain conditions are met. These conditions include certification of the doctor's license and experience; the capacity to refer patients to counseling; and a limit of 20 patients in an office setting. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services would be in charge of the program and could add to these conditions as appropriate. The attorney general would be allowed to terminate a doctor's DEA registration if the conditions are violated, and the program would be terminated after three years if the secretary and attorney general determine that it is not effective. DPF opposes S. 486 because of its increased criminal penalties, its infringement on freedom of speech, and its disproportionate appropriation of resources to law enforcement over prevention and treatment. DPF recommends you contact your Representative and urge them to oppose S. 486 when it comes before the House.
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