[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 8 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            METHAMPHETAMINE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 6, 2002

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, methamphetamine use continues to be a 
chronic problem in the United States and especially in the Central 
Valley of California. This product, better known as ``Meth,'' is 
produced by a very intricate cooking process that uses a number of 
chemicals like red phosphorus, acetone and pseudoephedrine. All of the 
chemicals that are used in the cooking process are easily obtained 
over-the-counter at almost any store in the United States. While most 
of the chemicals in the cooking process can be substituted with similar 
products, pseudoephedrine is the one chemical that is required to make 
Meth.
  Over the last couple of years, the federal government working in 
cooperation with narcotics agents and the private sector have tightened 
the control of pseudoephedrine in the United States. Today, 
pseudoephedrine can only be purchased in small quantity bottles or 
blister packs.
  However, last year, investigators in the Central Valley found several 
very large 23,000 pill-count bottles of pseudoephedrine tablets at Meth 
labs. Unfortunately, these bottles were found with English and French 
words on the labels. Because of this, as well as statements from 
confidential sources, investigators believe much of the bulk 
pseudoephedrine comes from French-speaking areas of Canada. And, it is 
now known that criminal organizations are using tractor-trailers to 
haul pseudoephedrine pills from Canada to the United States.
  Currently, Canada lacks a comprehensive legislative framework for 
addressing the pseudoephedrine trafficking problem. Without cooperation 
from Canadian authorities, the illicit diversion of pseudoephedrine 
tablets will continue unabated and the pills will continue to find 
their way to ready meth-producing markets in the Central Valley.
  Today I introduced a bill that will specifically address this 
problem. This legislation will urge President Bush to open a dialogue 
with the Canadian Government to discuss the large influx of 
pseudoephedrine from Canada.

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