Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 Source: The Week Online with DRCNet (US Web) Contact: http://www.drcnet.org/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2514 Author: Phillip S. Smith, Editor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rave+act (Rave act) RAVE ACT REVERBERATIONS In the wake of the cancellation of a Montana NORML/SSDP benefit by the venue's owners after a DEA agent warned them they could face a $250,000 fine under the RAVE Act if anyone used marijuana at the event (http://www.drcnet.org/wol/290.shtml#dearave), organizers of some drug reform-related events have begun to cancel events or relocate them to friendlier territory. At the same time, national drug reform and civil liberties organizations are mobilizing against the RAVE Act, now officially known as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act. The Sonoma Health and Harmony Festival (http://www.harmonyfestival.com) in California has cancelled plans to have a medical marijuana smoking area due to fears of RAVE Act prosecutions, California NORML has reported. And the Wisconsin Weedstock festival (http://www.weedstock.com) is relocating across the border to Canada -- to Sault, Ontario, where there currently are no laws against marijuana possession, let alone anything like the RAVE Act. Weedstock will become part of the Planetary Pride Hemp Fest (http://www.planetarypride.com/comingsoon.html), an Ontario-based event now in its fifth year. (US citizens thinking of attending but who have an arrest record should make sure they can get into Canada. Visit http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/customs/individuals/visitors-e.html and go to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada's web pages to get more information about entry.) As some groups change plans under RAVE Act prosecution pressures, the drug reform movement is mobilizing to roll back the law, which was stalled under stiff opposition in the Senate last year, but which passed easily once it was stealthily inserted into the popular Amber Alert by RAVE Act sponsor Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE). Drug Policy Alliance has made repealing the RAVE Act one of its action priorities (http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/), and other major reform and civil liberties groups continue to plot strategies to kill the law. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake