AMSTERDAM LOOKS INTO SUPERVISED ECSTASY SALES

AMSTERDAM, Dec 11 (Reuters) Amsterdam's mayor proposed looking into
organising supervised sales of Ecstasy on Thursday after authorities found
large amounts of the party drug had been mixed with a dangerous substance.

In reply to a city council motion suggesting greater regulation of Ecstasy
sales, Amsterdam's mayor said the city was willing to look into the idea
but noted that this would be difficult under current Dutch law.

Up to two thirds of clubbers in the city use Ecstasy, the common name for
the synthetic drug MDMA which is often referred to as the drug of choice
for the dance culture, producing a sense of physical energy and mild
euphoria.

But the quality of the drug varies widely and sometimes dangerously, the
mayor said in a letter to councillors, pointing out the threat impure
Ecstasy poses to health.

In a recent scare, authorities found large amounts of Ecstasy in
circulation that had been mixed with Atropine, a depressant drug that can
cause blindness, permanent heart and breathing problems or death.

``The problem of the polluted market might be met by the controlled sale of
Ecstasy, while provision of (health) information could also be enhanced,''
the letter said.

``Based on the considerations above, we are not opposed to accepting the
motion,...we are willing to study the conditions under which controlled
sale of Ecstasy is possible.''

Dutch law tolerates the sale and use of ``soft'' drugs, such as cannabis,
while retaining tough penalties for dealing in ``hard'' drugs which as
currently defined include ecstasy.