RAVES SHOULD STAY, JURY RECOMMENDS

Inquest into Allan Ho's ecstasy-related death ends with suggestions on
preventing drug use

Toronto -- All-night dance parties should be allowed to continue in safe
private and city-owned venues, an Ontario coroner's jury recommended
yesterday, to the delight of the rave community.

"This is a victory for the rave scene," said Sarah Wayne, 16, who testified
at the coroner's inquest into the ecstasy-related death last October of
21-year-old Allan Ho.

The five-member jury ruled that the death of the university student at a
rave in a Toronto underground parking garage was an accident caused by
complications of drug intoxication.

The inquest has cast the spotlight on the often-unseen and little-understood
world of all-night parties.

The jury's 27 recommendations are intended to prevent further deaths at rave
parties. They include putting controls in place to prevent illegal drug use,
establishing a permit system for locations holding raves and restricting
entrance to those under 16.

Louis Sokolov, the lawyer for the Dance Safety Committee, said the jury sent
"a very clear message to the mayor and to the chief of police . . . that
they should listen to all of the jury's recommendations and hold safe raves
on city properties."

Three weeks ago, Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman suspended raves on city property.
In the past, the late-night rave parties have been attended by thousands of
young people who dance until morning.

"City properties are the safest places to have parties. Shutting those down
would be the stupidest move ever," Ms. Wayne said. She said the city
properties often have the most space and the best ventilation, as well as
sufficient access to bathrooms and water.

Although Mr. Lastman and Police Chief Julian Fantino were the driving force
behind the suspension of raves, linking them with illegal drug use and guns,
both men said yesterday that they support the recommendations.

"Some of the recommendations are darn good," said Mr. Lastman, adding that
he only wants a safe atmosphere for young people to have fun. "I don't want
people dying because they're taking drugs."

But the mayor said he will not support city raves until Toronto has the
proper insurance because "the city could be put into bankruptcy."

He is also waiting for the province to pass the Raves Act 2000, a bill that
would establish regulations for dance parties and grant police greater
powers to shut down raves if laws are broken.

The jury also recommended that advertising for raves not include any
suggestion of a link to ecstasy; that a 50-cent surcharge be added to
admission charges, with the money being handed over to drug and
community-based harm-reduction programs; and that public health officials

educate youth about the risks associated with ecstasy, marijuana and other
drugs associated with raves.

Kim Stanford of the Toronto Dance Safety Committee applauded the jury for
recognizing the need for education among drug users. She added that the
group has no intention of changing the language of its controversial
ecstasy-education pamphlet, which describes the designer drug as a
"multifaceted jewel."