Restricting access to pill presses proposed in fight against fentanyl

A new Alberta private member's bill aims to cut the manufacture of fentanyl and W-18 by restricting access to pill presses, a key tool used by dealers who sell the deadly drugs.

Bill 205, the Pharmacy and Drug (Pharmaceutical Equipment Control) Amendment Act, was introduced Wednesday by Calgary-West MLA Mike Ellis, a former Calgary police officer.

If passed, the legislation would limit the purchase of pill presses, table machines, capsule filling machines and pharmaceutical mixers to pharmacists or people holding a licence.

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"That means criminals will not be able to legally purchase a pill press for a few thousand dollars and mass compound and distribute the drugs," Ellis said.

He said police officers tell him that pill presses are always present whenever offenders are busted for manufacturing fentanyl orW-18.

The bill proposes a maximum $50,000 fine for a first offence, moving up to $375,000 for a third and every subsequent offence. A frequent offender may also face six months jail in addition to the fine.

"Penalties may sound steep but it's important to remember criminals manufacturing this deadly drug are becoming multi-millionaires in profiting off the lives of innocent Albertans," Ellis said.

Ellis proposedthe bill just as Albertans arelearning more about W-18, a drugconsidered100 times stronger than fentanyl. On Wednesday, law enforcement officials announced four kilograms of W-18 had beenseized in an Edmonton-area drug bust last December.

Fentanyl overdoses claimed the lives of 272 Albertans in 2015.

Bill 205 has the support of the Alberta College of Pharmacists. Ellis said he also received positive feedback from Health Minister Sarah Hoffman.

Ellis said the bill is the first of its kind in Canada.