The Drug War

Ottawa has boosted the maximum penalties for trafficking in crystal meth – making it an offence that could mean life in prison.[..]

Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert hailed the announcement and said toughening the maximum sentences will help prevent the kind of crystal meth “epidemic” that has already happened in the United States.

Darcey at Dust My Broom had this to say:

Epidemic is right and what it does to people is incredible. A twenty-five year old can look forty and the crime that goes with it is scary. In the last area I lived in meth was responsible for the majority of the crimes. A single dose can destroy an entire life and entire families. The downfall - we may fill up our prisons.

Skippy, from
Enjoy Every Sandwich said this:

The feds have moved methamphetamine to Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, placing it in the same category as cocaine and heroin.

This is, of course, insane and unworkable. Furthermore, it is incredibly hypocritical in light of the proposed marijuana legislation. To my mind, it really doesn't matter what the substance that you put into your body is. So long as you put it solely into your body and it doesn't involve minors, so what? You might be surprised to hear this, but drinking battery acid is perfectly legal virtually everywhere.

Worse still, while methamphetamine is illegal, all of its base components are legal and readily available. Unlike other drugs, of which at least one component is criminal to posses, you can create a healthy amount of meth with one trip to your local pharmacy and hardware store. Not only is this insidious in terms of the spread of the drug, it is dangerous from a civil liberties perspective. In theory, just owning the components necessary to produce meth could open you up to charge of criminal conspiracy.

It's best to go read both articles, and after you do, come back here and answer me this; which side of the fence are you on?