DEA Clarifies New Anti-Drug Law July 7, 2003
News Summary
Following an incident in Billings. Mont., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued its field officers guidelines in enforcing a new drug law, the Billings Gazette reported June 26.In Billings, a warning from a DEA agent led to the cancellation of a fundraising concert sponsored by the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). The agent visited the local Eagles Lodge where the event was to be held and told the owners that the business could be fined up to $250,000 under the new law if people attending the concert were caught smoking marijuana.
DEA spokesman Will Glaspy said public protest over the incident, both in Montana and nationally, led the DEA to clarify how agents should interpret and enforce the law.
"We use the law to target those promoters who use concerts as a means to facilitate drug trafficking," Glaspy said. "The law does not target legitimate businessmen or women. These legitimate businesses don't have to worry about the DEA coming in and holding them responsible for drug use by their patrons."
The law, the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act, gives the DEA authority to target promoters that falsely advertise dances and concerts as drug-free and alcohol-free to attract teens, and then offer the teens drugs at the event.
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