But the House Judiciary Committee excised language from the Senate bill that called for mandatory 10-year minimum sentences for possession or distribution of ice to minors, citing similar legislation enacted last year. Current law imposes a mandatory one-year term for the offense.

"I want to address this as a very tough manufacturing bill," said Committee Chairman Terrance Tom.

Under terms of the measure, manufacturing methamphetamine, which is currently unregulated, would carry a mandatory 10-year and maximum 20-year sentence.

Among those testifying in favor of the measure, which is part of the Law Enforcement Coalition's roster of bills, were the Honolulu Police Department, the attorney general's office, Narcotics Enforcement Division chief Keith Kamita, Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Chinatown Merchants Association.

In written testimony, Harris said he found it incredible that making methamphetamine is not a crime under Hawaii law.

"(It's) ruining the lives of its users and the victims of the violence it spawns," said Harris. "Those who profit from its manufacture should know that a mandatory 10-year prison sentence awaits them."

Deputy Attorney General Kurt Spohn agreed.

"Methamphetamine is perhaps the most dangerous drug we have in our society," Spohn said.

"...The manufacture of methamphetamine is particularly dangerous because the manufacturing operation poses the risk of explosion, the risk of highly toxic chemicals injuring or killing innocent parties, and the risk of causing cancer to innocent parties due to the carcinogenic effect of the chemicals used or produced in the manufacture of methamphetamine."

But Deputy Public Defender Susan Arnett said sentencing is not a deterrent and advised against limiting judicial discretion in cases involving those not directly performing the illegal activity.

"If an 18-year-old person gave a minute amount of the proscribed drug to a close friend who was 17 years old, the 18-year-old would be subject to a minimum mandatory 10-year term," she said. "...If the situation involves friends nearly of the same age giving or delivering a drug to one another, but one is under age 18, then clearly a lesser mandatory term may be appropriate."

The committee decided to drop any reference to distribution from the bill.

The dozen-or so labs found in Hawaii since the start of 1996 were converting the powder form of methamphetamine, which is prevalent on the mainland where it is injected or snorted, to the smokable crystal form favored here.

According to Honolulu police, crystal meth seizures tripled from 1995 to 1996.