Pubdate: Tue, 19 Mar 2002
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Mark Wilson

BRITS' RELAXED DRUG POLICY SHOCKS LOCALS

A new British policy on drugs that turns a blind eye to the personal use of 
dance drugs such as ecstasy alarms Vancouver rave organizer Salim Lakhani.

Last year, Lakhani's company Swing Kids Entertainment was the organizer of 
a rave at the Pacific Coliseum. Despite tight security, two of the 4,600 
young people attending died after taking ecstasy.

Yesterday, Lakhani said: "For the authorities to give up on ecstasy sends 
the wrong signal to bad elements in society. They will be producing more 
potent drugs and producing them in larger quantities. I don't believe the 
use of drugs is OK and I don't believe it is OK to ignore ecstasy so as to 
concentrate on cocaine and heroin."

Guidelines issued by Britain's Home Office accept that drug-taking is 
widespread among the young and cannot be eradicated.

"Controlled drug use has become a large part of youth culture and is for 
many young people an integral part of a night out," the Home Office 
document says.

British operators of dance clubs catering to young people are being advised 
to provide rest areas, water, improved ventilation and trained first-aid 
assistance. Special rest areas for those who may be overcome on the dance 
floor are termed "chill-out" rooms.

One club owner quoted in the British press approves of the new relaxed 
approach, noting that government cannot halt the flow of drugs in prison, 
let alone attempt to control what clubbers do.

Lakhani said: "Canada needs to keep tight controls on drugs. The 
responsibility for doing this at raves shouldn't all fall to the promoter. 
We promoters have only the same powers as ordinary citizens. We can turn 
people away if we think they are suspicious, but that's all."

Vancouver's top drug cop, Insp. Kash Heed, said city police aren't taking a 
softer line toward use of ecstasy. "The prohibition on chemical drugs is in 
place and we are enforcing it," he said.

Police acknowledge that licensed raves are vigilantly supervised, so any 
drug dealing that may occur has to be done clandestinely.

Lakhani said his company had 95 security guards, 15 off-duty police 
officers and eight first-aid attendants at its last big event.

His firm is planning a Halloween rave and an open-air rave, at a site yet 
to be announced, in August.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart