e-1497 (Regulation of food and drugs)

Petition to the Minister of Health

• Methamphetamine (also known as meth, chalk, crank, jib, crystal meth and ice) is a synthetic drug manufactured from chemical ingredients;
• Pseudoephedrine, an over the counter decongestant, is a key chemical ingredient in Methamphetamine;
• Medicinal products containing Pseudoephedrine are regularly procured at pharmacies for the explicit purpose of producing Methamphetamine in makeshift labs;
• Methamphetamine can cause drug-induced psychosis characterized by paranoia, hallucinations and delusions that can result in irrational and aggressive behaviours and can cause significant long term mental and physical health effects;
• An overdose of methamphetamine can result in seizures, high body temperature, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke and death;
• Methamphetamine abuse is a growing problem across Canada and has produced significant social and economic hardships for individuals, families and communities; and
• The States of Oregon and Mississippi have passed legislation to restrict Pseudoephedrine to a prescription-drug status and successfully reduce the amount of Methamphetamine being illegally produced and the number of meth labs in their respective states;