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‘‘MDMA’’ or ‘‘Ecstasy’’, and paramethoxyampheta-
mine, commonly referred to as ‘‘PMA’’, have in-
creased in recent years, as evidenced by the fact that
club drug seizures by the United States Customs
Service have risen from less than 500,000 tablets
during fiscal year 1997 to more than 4,000,000 tab-
lets during the first 5 months of fiscal year 2000.
(2) Use of club drugs can cause long-lasting,
and perhaps permanent, damage to the serotonin
system of the brain, which is fundamental to the in-
tegration of information and emotion, and this dam-
age can cause long-term problems with learning and
memory.
(3) Due to the popularity and marketability of
club drugs, there are numerous Internet websites
with information on its effects, production, and the
locations of use, often referred to as ‘‘raves’’. The
availability of this information targets the primary
users of club drugs, who are most often college stu-
dents, young professionals, and other young people
from middle- to high-income families.
(4) Greater emphasis needs to be placed on—
(A) penalties associated with the manufac-
ture, distribution, and use of club drugs;
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(B) the education of young people on the
negative health effects of club drugs, since the
reputation of club drugs as ‘‘safe’’ drugs is its
most dangerous component;
(C) the education of State and local law
enforcement agencies regarding the growing
problem of club drug trafficking across the
United States;
(D) reducing the number of deaths caused
by club drug use and its combined use with al-
cohol; and
(E) adequate funding for research by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse to—
(i) identify those most vulnerable to
using club drugs and develop science-based
prevention approaches tailored to the spe-
cific needs of individuals at high risk;
(ii) 
understand 
how 
club 
drugs
produce its toxic effects and how to reverse
neurotoxic damage;
(iii) develop treatments, including new
medications and behavioral treatment ap-
proaches;
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(iv) better understand the effects that
club drugs have on the developing children
and adolescents; and
(v) translate research findings into
useful tools and ensure their effective dis-
semination.
SEC. 3. ENHANCED PUNISHMENT OF CLUB DRUG TRAF-
FICKERS.
(a) AMENDMENT TO FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDE-
LINES.—Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p)
of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sen-
tencing Commission shall amend the Federal sentencing
guidelines regarding any offense relating to the manufac-
ture, importation, or exportation of, or trafficking in—
(1) 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine;
(2) 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine;
(3) 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine;
(4) paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMA); or
(5) any other controlled substance, as deter-
mined by the Sentencing Commission in consultation
with the Attorney General, that is marketed as a
club drug and that has either a chemical structure
substantially similar to that of 3,4-methylenedioxy
methamphetamine or paramethoxymethamphetamine
or an effect on the central nervous system substan-
HR 4553 IH
tially similar to or greater than that of 3,4-
methylenedioxy methamphetamine or paramethoxy-
methamphetamine; (including an attempt or con-
spiracy to commit an offense described in paragraph
(1), (2), (3), or (4)) in violation of the Controlled
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Con-
trolled Substances Import and Export Act (21
U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or the Maritime Drug Law En-
forcement Act (46 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.).
(b) GENERAL REQUIREMENT.—In carrying out this
section, the United States Sentencing Commission shall,
with respect to each offense described in subsection (a)—
(1) review and amend the Federal sentencing
guidelines to provide for increased penalties such
that those penalties are comparable to the base of-
fense levels for offenses involving any methamphet-
amine mixture; and
(2) take any other action the Commission con-
siders to be necessary to carry out this subsection.
(c) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out
this section, the United States Sentencing Commission
shall ensure that the Federal Sentencing guidelines for of-
fenders convicted of offenses described in subsection (a)
reflect—
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(1) the need for aggressive law enforcement ac-
tion with respect to offenses involving the controlled
substances described in subsection (a); and
(2) the dangers associated with unlawful activ-
ity involving such substances, including—
(A) the rapidly growing incidence of abuse
of the controlled substances described in sub-
section (a) and the threat to public safety that
such abuse poses;
(B) the recent increase in the illegal im-
portation of the controlled substances described
in subsection (a);
(C) the young age at which children are
beginning to use the controlled substances de-
scribed in subsection (a); and
(D) any other factor that the Sentencing
Commission deems appropriate.
SEC. 4. ENHANCED PUNISHMENT OF GHB TRAFFICKERS.
(a) AMENDMENT TO FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDE-
LINES.—Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p)
of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sen-
tencing Commission shall amend the Federal sentencing
guidelines in accordance with this section with respect to
any offense relating to the manufacture, importation, or
exportation of, or trafficking in—
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(1) gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and its salts; or
(2) the List I Chemical gamma-butyrolactone;
(including an attempt or conspiracy to commit an
offense described in paragraph (1) or (2)) in viola-
tion of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and
Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 4 et seq.), or the Mari-
time Drug Law Enforcement Act (46 5 U.S.C. 1901
et seq.).
(b) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out this
section, the United States Sentencing Commission shall
with respect to each offense described in subsection (a)—
(1) review and amend the Federal Sentencing
guidelines to provide for increased penalties such
that those penalties reflect the seriousness of these
offenses and the need to deter them;
(2) assure that the guidelines provide that of-
fenses involving a significant quantity of Schedule I
and II depressants are subject to greater terms of
imprisonment than currently provided by the guide-
lines and that such terms are consistent with appli-
cable statutory maximum penalties; and
(3) take any other action the Commission con-
siders to be necessary to carry out this subsection.