Lawmakers Get Their RAVE Act Together

For all the reasons outlined in your July 29 commentary, “Ill-Informed Bill to Counter Ecstasy Use in Clubs Is Nothing to Rave About,” the U.S. Senate deserves our utmost support for proposing the Reducing Americans’ Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it’s probably time to call the game warden.

The proposed RAVE Act would hold landlords liable for allowing housing to be used for drug transactions that create long-term community problems. It allows prosecution of people who knowingly open, lease, rent, use or maintain a place for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing or using a controlled substance. The bill would make it a federal crime to temporarily use a place for the purpose of using marijuana or other drugs.

With Ecstasy use among teenagers up 71% over the last three years, doesn’t it make sense to give law enforcement every tool it needs to deal with this problem? The Drug Policy Alliance is not a trade group representing landlords or businesspeople. Its real concern is legalizing drugs.

Steve Dnistrian

Executive Vice President

Partnership for a Drug-Free America, New York City

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Thanks for running William McColl’s criticisms of the RAVE Act. This legislation was written by people wholly ignorant of raves. As a result, it is counterproductive and may actually be responsible for future deaths at raves, far more than would ever be seen resulting from Ecstasy use.

Danny Terwey

Pacifica, Calif.