ARRESTING DRUG USERS 'EXTREME'

Turf Doping Ravers, Promoter Tells Inquest

Rave promoter Chris Samojlenko doesn't want Ecstasy at his all-night
parties, but says excessive warnings about drugs on promotional flyers
would be "silly," a coroner's inquest heard yesterday.

The warning "no drugs" had appeared on flyers advertising last October's
rave, organized by Samojlenko, at an underground parking garage where Allen
Ho, 20, collapsed after taking Ecstasy. He later died in hospital.

Samojlenko, 25, of Hullabaloo Productions, said drug warnings could be more
prominent, but there's a limit.

"If raves get promoted too much as drug-related, the wrong element starts
to come out for the wrong reason," he said.

"I wouldn't want to see our flyer turned into a cigarette banner. It would
be silly. But I have no problem it being more prominent."

Samojlenko, who also goes by the DJ name Anabolic Frolic, said he has never
taken Ecstasy at a rave despite having organized 14 parties and attended
hundreds and he doesn't condone the drug.

Samojlenko said he doesn't want ravers arrested if they're found with one
pill.

"Arresting someone for one pill, it's a little extreme," he said. "I'd
rather see it destroyed" and the raver kicked out.

"Obviously there are people who are at the raves because they can do
Ecstasy. I would rather see them leave the scene."

Lollipops and soothers -- often used to counter Ecstasy-induced jaw
clenching -- are also part of rave fashion and not necessarily a sign of
drug use, he said.

Samojlenko also testified he did not sign the contract to hold last
October's rave until three days before the party. He was turned away from
conventional venues because of a media blitz about raves.

Samojlenko said he was assured the venue, which had hosted other raves,
complied with fire codes, but the underground garage proved to be extremely
hot.

"We had no idea how hot it would have gotten," he said. "They don't
normally get quite that hot."