Ecstasy trafficking and abuse have soared in recent years. In 1999, the Customs Service intercepted 3.5 million doses of ecstasy. In the first nine months of this year, Customs had already seized nearly 9 million ecstasy tablets. This spike has occurred in part because relatively low sentences for smuggling large quantities of ecstasy make the drug an extremely valuable commodity. Selling 1,000 doses of ecstasy will net the dealer only about a year in prison.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
Ecstasy can cause brain damage, potentially fatal dehydration and overheating and can precipitate heart attacks or strokes. In Florida alone, six deaths directly attributable to ecstasy occured within the first four months of this year. Graham also thanked Republican Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Charles Grassley of Iowa for their hard work in support of this legislation. A similar measure passed the House Judiciary Committee in July 2000.