Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jun 2003
Source: Missoula Independent (MT)
Copyright: 2003 Missoula Independent
Contact: http://www.missoulanews.com/News/Letters/LetterTo.asp
Website: http://www.missoulanews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1534
Author: Jed Gottlieb
Cited: Montana NORML http://www.montananorml.org/
Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rave+act (Rave act)
http://www.mapinc.org/topics/NORML (NORML)
http://www.mapinc.org/states/mt/ (Montana)

BURNOUT IN BILLINGS

Working under the premise that there's no smoke without a fire, in
April Congress passed The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act, better
know as the Rave Act. Tacked on to the Amber Alert bill by Sen. Joe
Biden (D-Del.), the Rave act holds any concert promoter, nightclub
owner or arena/stadium owner responsible for third-party drug
violations at any host's event. Even modest benefit concerts are
potential targets, as the Billings chapter of the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) learned last
week.

Twentysomething Adam Jones of Billings NORML had planned on raising
money for a campaign to decriminalize medical marijuana in Montana
with a benefit concert at the Eagles Lodge.

"This was his first big event and he was really excited," says John
Masterson-the director of the Montana chapter of NORML. "We even
shipped him our big NORML banner."

The event had strong momentum-four live acts and a simulcast on
community access TV were lined up-but maybe the momentum was too much.
A day before the event, Jones was arrested for changing jobs without
informing his probation officer, according to an e-mail sent by Jones'
father to Masterson (Jones is on probation for the possession of
hallucinogenic mushrooms). Then, on the day of the event, the Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA) approached the Eagles Lodge warning
the venue of a $250,000 fine if drugs or paraphernalia were found at
the event.

"Seems like they were just trying to nip things in the bud," says a
representative of the Eagles Lodge.

In an e-mail distributed after the event was cancelled, Jones wrote:
"Not only did this cause us to lose money, hope, and face, but it will
seriously endanger the chance of trying anything like this again in
Billings. What the hell happened to my first amendment?"

This is the first example of the Rave act being put to use as a
preemptive strike, says national NORML representative Gretchen Hilmers.

"We seem to think that the smaller concerts and benefits will be
targeted, as opposed to the venues where thousands of people will be
attending, because they don't want to turn this into publicity [for
NORML]," she says.

But publicity is just what NORML is getting. In addition to the
ubiquitous potential lawsuits, reporters from all over the U.S. have
been banging on Jones' and Masterson's doors-including the Los Angeles
Times and a Rolling Stone freelancer. As for Jones, who has so far
declined to talk to press, Masterson says the rookie told him the
whole experience has convinced him to get out of the NORML activism
game for good.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake