State House to review ecstasy law amendments

Two bills introduced to amend Pennsylvania's new ecstasy law were voted out
of the House Judiciary Committee last week in order to be reviewed by the
full House to eventually amend the law.

Rep. Doug Reichley, R-Lehigh County, sponsor of the bills, said one is
designed to improve the law by correcting an error in the drug's chemical
description. The other will cover possible chemicals that can be used in
the drug's manufacture that are not included in the current law.

Reichley, a former prosecutor, also said the law that took effect Feb. 7
needs to be changed in regard to the weight of the drug to make it easier
to prosecute.

"The Senate bill amended the crimes code but it didn't expand the drug
act," Reichley said.

Under the new law, the maximum penalty for possession of 1,000 ecstasy
pills or at least 300 grams of the drug is 15 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.

Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, who worked with the attorney general's
office to craft the ecstasy law, said he does not believe the changes to
the bills are necessary.

"I'm comfortable with the way we wrote it," Corman said.

"I don't think we need to change anything," he said.

But Corman added he is not opposed to strengthening the law.

"If more of a definition is needed to cover different types of chemicals, I
guess that's fine," he said.

The current law refers to several chemicals, including 3,
4-methylenedioxyamphetamine.

Reichley's bill would change the spelling to 3,
4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

He also wants to add the following chemicals: 5-methoxy-3,
4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA); 2, 5 dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA).

Kevin Harley, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said Reichley's
efforts are welcome.

"We are always looking to strengthen our drug laws, and we appreciate Rep.
Reichley's support and his thoughtfulness," Harley said.

Reichley would not give a timetable for legislature to act in reviewing his
bills, but added he hopes it is swift.

"I look forward to a quick review by the House so we can move this bill
into law," he said.