DENIED ECSTASY

Assault On Free Speech Is Unnacceptable

At a time when the tide seems to be turning toward the acceptance of
ecstasy for recreational and even therapeutic reasons - with Time
Magazine's recent front-page article leading the mainstream discussion
- - a reactionary initiative from Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) is attempting
to ban information pertaining to its use. Introduced as the "Ecstasy
Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000," it rides on the shirttails of a
similar act outlawing dissemination of information on methamphetamines
and all other controlled substances.

What these bills have in common is their flagrant disregard for First
Amendment freedoms as well as their negligent endorsement of a new
kind of censorship that endangers America's largely middle class crowd
of ravers and ecstasy users.

The Act would prohibit any discussion of dosage, dealing or other
information relating to the use of ecstasy in all forms of
communication, such as books, the Internet or email. Felonious
behavior would include not only instructions on synthesizing MDMA, but
also knowledge on testing for purity, correct dosage and particular
safety precautions. It reinforces the language of the Methamphetamine
Act when it outlaws the instruction or demonstration of information
concerning ecstasy - or any other controlled substance - if the person
distributing the information knows someone will commit a drug crime
based on that knowledge.

For better or for worse, the language is open to wide interpretation.
But instead of stopping the flow of ecstasy, this Act would stop the
flow of information. It also sets up a myriad of dangerous scenarios
that jeopardize youth.

Senator Graham's proposed act would undermine efforts to increase the
safety of ecstasy users by groups like DanceSafe, which provide free
testing at raves and clubs. Without their efforts to detect drugs like
DXM, a chemical that can cause extreme overheating when mixed with
ecstasy, many unsuspecting ecstasy users would be endangered.
Innumerable users would be faced with a government-sponsored veil of
silence surrounding proper use and safety precautions. The proposal
straightforwardly outlaws information that can save lives.

DanceSafe founder Emanuel Sferios had this to say, "Politicians want
to appear tough on drugs, so they come up with this bill," he told
Salon.com. "But it's only going to exacerbate the problem. It should
be called the Club-Drug Harm Maximization Act."

The main point of the bill is its plan to strengthen penalties for
ecstasy dealers. But it seems almost overkill that much of its
language is borrowed from the Methamphetamine Act, which similarly
assaults freedom of speech when it comes to drugs. The focus on
ecstasy seems more of a political play than any kind of actual
progress toward understanding the drug problems facing this country.

The Senate should kill this bill. What we need are sane solutions of
drug education, not regressive attempts to outlaw life-saving and
necessary free speech.

This proposed legislation smacks the First Amendment in the face and
endangers the very people it is meant to protect. While a crackdown on
ecstasy was inevitable, such heavy handed assaults on freedom of
speech are not acceptable and cannot be tolerated.