The following may be used to answer inquiries. The therapists claim that MDMA increases perceptions of self-insight and empathy.
Recreational users claim that the drug relaxes inhibitions and enhances communications and sex.
Although it was developed in the 1970's, there was no enforcement activity involving MDMA manufacture or possession prior to last July. The DEA proposal was protested by some nurses, physicians and professors of pharmacology who wrote letters demanding a hearing. They challenged the proposed scheduling on the grounds that the drug has only a low or moderate abuse potential and has great therapeutic usefulness. DEA is using a 1984 change in the Controlled Substances Act which allows emergency scheduling of drugs for one year. DEA's emergency ban will become effective July 1.