ECSTASY AND THE RAVE ACT

Ecstasy and the RAVE Act

In early 1980's ecstasy was a legal substance in the United States
In 1984 sale and possession of the substance became illegal
During the late 1990s and early 2000s Ecstasy (MDMA) caused a media and government constructed drug "epidemic"
Ecstasy is a Schedule I drug according to the DEA
The RAVE (Reducing America's Vulnerability to Ecstasy) Act was introduced in 2002 then passed in 2003

This Act made it illegal to maintain a building for the purposes of drug consumption
Punishment was 20 years imprisonment, up to $250,000 in civil penalties, and $500,000 in criminal fines could be applied to anyone who "managed or controlled any place, whether temporarily or permanently

Glow sticks and pacifiers are considered to be drug related items when it comes to Ecstasy

Main goal of the RAVE Act was to make promoters of musical and other events where ecstasy consumption occurs liable for the consumption of their patrons.
Many argued the Act saying that it will less likely keep individuals from using ecstasy, since the penalties are imposed against even organizers and club owners and not the drug users
In 2001, government passed legislation that increased the penalties for importing or selling ecstasy to the point that they were more sever than if people were associated with trafficking powdered cocaine.
Most of the problems that are associated with ecstasy are not related to the drug itself but to the effects of adulterants and counterfeit substances sold to users

Article that I found that tells a little more about the RAVE Act......http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/raveact/

This article talks about how the penalties for Ecstasy are harsher then people with cocaine and gives some greater explanation why.http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/03_23_01ecstasy.cfm

This photo represents some of the pills that ecstasy looks like: