Assembly passes anti-meth legislation

Aug. 5, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The Mat-Su Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to enact ordinances cracking down on methamphetamine, which would take effect if voters decide in October to allow the borough to regulate the sale of legal medications containing meth's active ingredients.

"Today is a good day in the fight against methamphetamine," said assembly member Jim Colver, who introduced the ordinances. "It's time to end the Valley's status as the meth capital of Alaska."

In makeshift labs across the borough, ingredients found in common cold medicines are extracted for use in cooking methamphetamine.

If voters decide to approve health powers for the borough, stores would be required to sell products containing methamphetamine precursor drugs such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine behind the counter. The ordinance will also make it a misdemeanor to sell more than three packages of such products unless the buyer signs a register and shows proper identification.

In addition to the drug's highly addictive nature, there are threats to first emergency responders, tenants, landlords, neighbors, and children associated with methamphetamine manufacturing and abuse. Manufacturing 1 pound of methamphetamine produces between 5 and 6 pounds of toxic waste, according to Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, who testified at the public hearing Tuesday night.

Dennis Brodigan, the borough's emergency services director, said the ambulance transportation of people contaminated by methamphetamine manufacturing puts the medics at risk and causes the vehicles to be out of service while they are being decontaminated.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation must clear apartments and houses used as labs before they can be occupied again, costing landlords and property owners rental income and expensive repairs.

Colver said the restrictions in the ordinance make sense because it is easier, more effective and less costly to stop someone from making methamphetamine than it is to clean up a meth lab.

Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Andy Greenstreet told the assembly that 19 of the 30 meth labs seized statewide this year were located in the Valley.

In order for the restrictions approved by the assembly to be enacted, voters must approve a companion ordinance that authorizes the borough to adopt limited areawide health powers, specifically to regulate methamphetamines. If approved during the Oct. 4 election, the regulations will go into effect Oct. 15.

"This is the beginning of a community effort to stamp out the scourge of meth abuse that is plaguing the Mat-Su Borough," Colver said. "I ask Valley voters to join in and help, by supporting the meth ordinance this fall."

No one is questioning the need to address the growing problem caused by drug manufacturing and use in the Valley, but some residents have voiced concerns about the government telling them how much of a legal substance they can purchase.

Dr. David Werner, of Palmer, testified that three packages are sufficient for those purchasing the medications for legitimate medical purposes.

Several audience members noted they were willing to accept the inconvenience of buying a small amount of medicine if it meant it would be harder for meth addicts and dealers to manufacture the drug.

Tuesday's vote was not unanimous, as assembly members Bill Allen and Jody Simpson opposed the ordinance. They said the borough was stepping into the state's sphere of influence in regulating drugs.

"We can't afford to wait," Colver said of their concerns. "We are asking the voters to grant the borough the health powers necessary to regulate meth-related ingredients. If we wait for the state to act, it might take another year or two.

"We're simply stepping to the plate to address a drug problem that leads to increased crime," Colver said. "Burglaries and violent crimes are increasing and troopers say that most are related to meth use. If the borough doesn't address this it will become a more serious problem."

Contact Darrell Breese at

352-2267 or darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.