Pubdate: Fri, 11 Oct 2002
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124
Author: Jesse J. Holland, Associated Press writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?194 (Hutchinson, Asa)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm (Raves)

LAWMAKERS TARGET RAVE HOSTS

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers want to go after organizers and hosts of dance 
parties called "raves" in an attempt to halt the fast-rising use of the 
drug Ecstasy, which has been linked to damage to the brain, heart and 
kidneys in American teenagers.

Raves are often hot spots for the use of Ecstasy and other drugs, and a 
bill offered by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, chairman of the House Judiciary 
crime subcommittee, would make it easier for the government to fine or 
imprison business owners who don't prevent their customers from committing 
drug offenses on their property.

Officials already blame and prosecute Ecstasy manufacturers, smugglers and 
users for the increased use of the party drug.

"Many raves are advertised as 'drug- and alcohol-free' to give partygoers 
and parents a false sense of security," said Drug Enforcement 
Administration chief Asa Hutchinson. "While many of these parties may be 
alcohol-free, the open distribution of Ecstasy, predatory drugs and other 
club drugs is commonplace at many of these venues."

Laws are already on the books making the production, smuggling or selling 
of Ecstasy -- also known as MDMA -- illegal. But officials said additional 
steps are necessary since the number of users are rising.

"Young adults who would not consider sticking a needle in their arm or 
smoking a crack pipe are now popping Ecstasy at an alarming rate," said 
Andrea Carport, an investigator from the Middlesex County, N.J. 
prosecutor's office.

Hutchinson said 8.1 million Americans 12-years-old and older tried Ecstasy 
in 2001, up from 6.5 million the year before.

Added Smith: "The most important thing we can do on the war on drugs is to 
keep our young people off drugs in the first place.

However, the American Civil Liberties Union complained that it would be 
unfair to hold rave promoters responsible for the action of their 
partygoers and doing so would open other music venues that hold events like 
Rolling Stones concerts to persecution as well.

"If Ecstasy is the problem, let's not make raves the victim," said Graham 
Boyd, the ACLU's drug policy litigation project director. "Let's not make 
the music the victim."

The bill number is HR 5519. 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom