NEW LAW MEANS TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR SELLING ECSTASY

A new state law taking effect next year will stiffen penalties against
criminals convicted of selling the so-called "club drug" ecstasy.

Gov. George Ryan signed House Bill 126, also known as "Kelley's Law," in
his state Capitol office Monday morning. The measure is named after Kelley
McEnery Baker, a young woman who grew up in Springfield and died of an
ecstasy overdose in November 1999 in New Jersey. She was 23.

Her mother, Kate Patton of Arlington Heights, and stepfather, Steve Patton
of Springfield, attended the bill-signing ceremony.

The new law should help prevent others from using ecstasy, selling it and
dying because of the drug, and that means Kelley "will not have died in
vain," Kate Patton said.

"Kelley was my stepdaughter," said Steve Patton, his voice wavering. "I
apologize for still being so emotional over this, but this is a bill that
was long overdue."

The legislation came about when Kate Patton contacted DuPage County State's
Attorney Joseph Birkett, who then got in touch with House Republican Leader
Lee Daniels, R-Elmhurst. Daniels pushed the bill in the House.

The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, means sellers of ecstasy and other
club drugs will be subject to the same criminal punishment as sellers of
other serious drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. The use of ecstasy often
is associated with raves, all-night, musically driven parties.

"People don't know as much about ecstasy as they may know about the other
drugs," Ryan said. "It's called a club drug. It sounds different. Young
people get attracted to it because they think it's less messy, less
telltale and easier to get hold of."

The new law will make it a Class X felony to possess with the intent to
distribute 15 to 200 doses of ecstasy. That means a conviction would be
punishable by a minimum six-year prison term.

Under existing law, it is possible for a dealer caught with fewer than 900
ecstasy pills to be penalized only with probation - and no time behind bars.

Another part of the new law will expand the definition of drug-induced
homicide. For example, it will mean that a dealer may be charged with
drug-induced homicide if someone dies after buying a single hit of ecstasy.

The new Illinois law will be one of the toughest in the country, and
perhaps the toughest, Birkett said.