STUCK ON GLOW STICKS

When federal prosecutors filed charges against local promoters who held
raves at the State Palace Theater in New Orleans, they greatly exaggerated
the importance of the trappings of dance culture. Glow sticks, pacifiers
and other items weren't just ornamental touches for an electronic music
party; they supposedly "enhanced the high" of illegal drugs like ecstasy.

Now both houses of Congress are considering legislation that shows the same
fixation.

The defendants in the New Orleans case faced charges under the so-called
crackhouse law, a broad federal law that banned making property available
for the purpose of drug sales. The proposed Rave Act of 2002 -- in this
case, "Rave" stands for "Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy" --
would expand that law to hold "promoters of drug-oriented entertainment"
liable for their role in events at which drug use is widespread.

Introduced by Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, the Rave Act associates glow
sticks and other rave paraphernalia with drug use, and it asserts that
bottled water and air-conditioned "chill rooms" cater to drug users. Anyone
who thinks that water and air conditioning serve no other purpose than to
facilitate drug use has never been to a dance club in Louisiana in July.

There's no doubt that promoters of large public events ought to show
concern for the well-being of their customers. But if ecstasy sales are as
rampant at raves as prosecutors and some members of Congress believe, the
most obvious solution is for law-enforcement agencies to expand their
efforts to catch drug dealers at those events -- not to go chasing after
glow sticks.