'CLUB DRUG' PENALTY PROPOSED

People who sell small amounts of Ecstasy and other "club drugs" would
face bigger prison terms under legislation introduced in the General
Assembly on Friday.

The bill would toughen club drug penalties so they match those
applied to the sale of cocaine and heroin.

Drugs such as Ecstasy are becoming increasingly popular among
teenagers. Three Chicago area youths died last year after taking
another designer drug, PMA, which resembles Ecstasy.

The minimum prison term for selling 15 grams of cocaine and heroin is
six years. Someone would have to sell 200 grams of Ecstasy--or about
900 doses of the designer drug--to get the same sentence.

"Tougher penalties are required to send a message to those who intend
to harm our children for the sake of lining their own pockets," House
Minority Leader Lee Daniels (R-Elmhurst) said.

About a quarter of the drug cases prosecuted in DuPage County involve
Ecstasy or other club drugs--and the number is rising sharply, said
DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett, who backs the
legislation.

Longer prison terms probably would deter some dealers who prefer to
sell club drugs because they carry lesser penalties, he said.

"Drug dealers know there's not a big downside," Birkett said.