LAWMAKERS TARGET RAVES, NOT ILLEGAL DRUG USE

Federal and state lawmakers have declared a crackdown on ecstasy use.

But instead of correctly taking measures to target illegal drug use,
legislators are missing the mark.

A state bill, AB 1941, would make it more difficult to get a permit for
"any electronic dance event of the type commonly referred to as rave
parties" that have "500 or more persons."

Separate federal legislation, dubbed the RAVE Act, would bring raves under
the federal "crackhouse law," which prohibits providing a place for illegal
drug use.

Ravers should be informed of the effects of ecstasy, and rave organizers
should be concerned and more aware about the consequences of drug use, and
the health and safety of attendees.

Legislators should put more effort into educating ravers and promoters,
rather than threatening them with jail sentences and making it harder to
hold events loosely classified as raves.

Laws as restrictive as these may force teenagers and young adults to have
private rave parties at home-still without being educated about ecstasy.