[Dynagroove] RAVE act being used...

[Becky Rynkiewicz]

While this isnt dance music related per se...it's something to inform =
yourself about...they are using it against venue owners...y'all think =
it's hard to come by a location now...pay attn.

** DEA Uses RAVE Act to Stop a Benefit to Raise Money for Marijuana=20
Reform

** Fax the DEA and Tell Acting Administrator William Simpkins to Stop=20
Using the RAVE Act Against Political Events
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=3D2&item=3D10509=
&ms=3Dnorml

Only two months after the RAVE Act was passed by Congress it has been=20
used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to intimidate=20
the owners of a Billings, Montana, venue into canceling a combined=20
benefit for the Montana chapter of the National Organization for the =
Reform=20
of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).

On the day the fundraiser was set to take place a Billings-based DEA=20
agent presented the venue owners with a copy of the RAVE Act warning =
them=20
that they could face a fine of $250,000 if illicit drugs were found in=20
the premises. The bands - most of which regularly played at the venue -=20
were also approached and warned that their participation in the event=20
could result in a fine.

Rather than risk the possibility of enormous fines, the venue decided=20
to cancel the event. This blatant intimidation by the DEA was obviously=20
designed to shut down the marijuana reform fundraiser. Unless the=20
American people speak out against this attack on free speech, the DEA =
will=20
be emboldened to use the law against other events they do not like, such =

as all-night dance parties, hip hop concerts, hemp festivals, and=20
circuit parties.

Join the Drug Policy Alliance, National Organization for the Reform of=20
Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and numerous other=20
organizations in our campaign to pressure the DEA to stop using the RAVE =

Act to shut down political events.

ACTIONS TO TAKE

1) Fax the DEA. Urge Acting Administrator William Simpkins to stop=20
using the RAVE Act to harass innocent business owners and stifle free=20
speech.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=3D2&item=3D10509=
&ms=3Dnorml


2) Forward this alert to friends and family. Send it to e-mail lists=20
and post it in chat rooms.

BACKGROUND

Sponsored by Senator Biden (D-DE), the RAVE Act (also known as the=20
Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act) was first introduced last year. It=20
proved so controversial then that two of its original co-sponsors =
withdrew=20
their support because they feared it would send innocent business=20
owners to jail. Business owners collected over 20,000 signatures in=20
opposition to the bill.   Protests against it were held around the =
country and=20
tens of thousands of voters urged their elected official to oppose it.=20
Controversy over the bill stalled it last year, but Senator Biden=20
attached it to the popular "Amber Alert" bill without public debate or a =

vote of Congress earlier this year and snuck it into law.

The RAVE Act expands federal law to make it easier to jail and imprison=20
event organizers and property owners that fail to stop drug offenses=20
from occurring on their property - even in cases when they take serious=20
steps to reduce drug offenses. It applies to "any place", including bars =

and nightclubs, hotels, apartment buildings, and homes. Legal experts=20
warned that the law was so broad that it could be used to shut down not=20
only raves and electronic music events, but also Hip Hop, rock, and=20
country music concerts, sporting events, gay and lesbian fundraisers,=20
political protests, and any other event federal agents do not like.=20

On May 30th an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) told=20
managers of the Eagle Lodge in Billings, Montana that the Lodge could=20
be fined $250,000 if anyone smoked marijuana during a planned benefit to =

raise money for a campaign to change Montana's medical marijuana law.=20
After consulting their attorneys, the Eagle Lodge canceled the event.

For more information on the RAVE Act see:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=3D57&l=3D1989

For more information on the DEA and the Eagle Lodge see:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=3D57&l=3D1990