The RAVE Act

On April 10, 2003, the PROTECT Act passed in both the House (400 – 25) and the Senate (98 – 0). The RAVE Act was attached to this bill at the last moment, so it passed also. On April 30, the president signed it into law.

The “RAVE Act” expands the scope of the “crack house statute.” This makes it easier to prosecute owners and managers of businesses and/or real estate if persons on their property commit a drug-related offense. Persons convicted under this new law could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, fined $500,000 and have their business or property confiscated. This legislation also adds a civil liability clause to the “crack house statute.” The DEA has a web page that explains how they intend to enforce this law.


The Defending America’s Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005

Congress has proposed a new law that specifies mandatory minimum sentences for most drug-related offenses, including life without parole for any third offense. In addition, it specifies new offenses involving the failure to report the drug activity of others to the police. For example, if you fail to report within 24 hours any drug activity that you learn of, which occurs within 500 feet of anyone under the age of 18, then you would be sentenced to at least two years in prison.

H.R. 1528. Defending America’s Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005

Sec. 425. Failure To Protect Children From Drug Trafficking Activities

“(a) It shall be unlawful for any person who witnesses or learns of a violation of sections 416(b)(2), 417, 418, 419, 420, 424, or 426 to fail to report the offense to law enforcement officials within 24 hours of witnessing or learning of the violation and thereafter provide full assistance in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the person violating paragraph (a).”

“(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to not less than two years or more than 10 years. If the person who witnesses or learns of the violation is the parent or guardian, or otherwise responsible for the care or supervision of the person under the age of 18 or the incompetent person, such person shall be sentenced to not less than three years or more than 20 years.”

To send a fax to your representative in Congress with your opinion on this issue, you can use the Drug Policy Alliance fax server.

Contact info for your senators and representatives:

Organizations that are taking action on this issue and links to information about the Rave Act on their websites
Documentary Film

Le Sheng Liu, of the UC Berkeley Drug Resource Center and SHARE Project (Bay Area DanceSafe), has made a documentary film, “Generation E,” about the RAVE Act and its impact on youth culture.

Generation E
A Film by Le Sheng Liu

“On April 30, 2003, President Bush signed the R.A.V.E. Act, a federal law making it a felony to organize an event or operate any type of space where illicit drug activities would take place. The bill was originally written to punish rave and nightclub promoters who threw parties where young people took ecstasy and other ‘club drugs.’ Generation E traces the government’s fight against rave and ecstasy culture during the past decade, and also examines other youth and music scenes that have had legislation passed against them throughout history, including jazz, swing, rock n’ roll, disco, punk, hip hop, and the Oakland ‘sideshow’ scene. Contains archival footage ranging from 19th century drug prohibition to recent news coverage of ‘rave deaths.’ Features interviews with dozens of musicians, activists, health workers, and youth advocates from the San Francisco Bay Area.”

News articles and editorials on the subject
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