'ECSTACY' INCLUDED BY COURT

The synthetic, or designer drug 'Ecstacy,' also known as MDMA
(methylendedioxymeth-amphetamine) was recently included by the Oklahoma
Supreme Court in a statute relating to the fines and punishments for
trafficking in illegal drugs.

In a decision approved April 24, the court amended Oklahoma State Statute
63, Section 2-415, which also provides fines and punishments for
convictions relating to the trafficking of marijuana, cocaine or coca
leaves, heroin, amphetamine or methamphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamide
(LSD), Phencyclidine (PCP), and cocaine base (commonly known as "crack" or
"rock").

Ecstacy, which can be found in a powder, capsule or pill form, acts as a
stimulant to the central nervous system and is often referred to as a club
or party drug.

The drug's chemistry is similar to that of methamphetamine, and it often
results in similar effects.

However, District 16 Drug Task Force officials explained that because
Ecstacy is more complex and more difficult to manufacture it is also more
expensive and, therefore, less common in LeFlore County than methamphetamine.

Officials recalled only one instance where one Ecstacy pill was discovered
in the possession of an area college student.

The immediate effects of Ecstacy are reported to include feelings of
detachment, loss of drives such as hunger, sleep and sexual, muscle
tension, blurred vision/rapid eye movements, sweating or chills, insomnia,
tremors, hypertension, increase in heart rate, dehydration, nausea,
fainting and death.

Long-term effects could include anorexia, high blood pressure, kidney
failure, stroke, change in emotion, memory deterioration and change in
brain chemicals.

Some reported psychological effects of the drug are confusion, depression,
altered sleep habits, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, panic and
psychotic episodes.

The newly-amended statute sets the fines for trafficking quantities in
excess of 30 tablets or ten grams of substances containing a detectable
amount of 3.4-MDMA at amounts up to $500,000. Prison terms can include life
without parole for repeat offenders.

The amended statute was set to go into effect immediately.