Drug law takes aim at raves
The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act, previously called the RAVE Act, cleared Congress last week, setting the stage for rave promoters to be prosecuted if there is drug use at rave sites.
The act, sponsored by Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), tweaks a 17-year-old federal drug law, originally crafted to prosecute owners of crack houses, by expanding its definition of a site devoted to drug enterprise to include onetime events and outdoor gatherings. The legislation has been castigated by civil rights activists who say it unfairly targets rave promoters for the actions of some patrons.
They worry that promoters of reggae concerts or jam rock festivals could also be targeted and that the rave scene will go further underground to avoid scrutiny.
The act was tucked into the popular Amber Alert legislation that is focused on abducted children.
-- Geoff Boucher
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