New ecstasy law increases penalties for possession

Gov. Christie Whitman signed legislation in late June that increased criminal penalties in New Jersey for the possession, manufacture and distribution of the drug MDMA, also known as ecstasy.

The legislation — passed June 22 — is meant to discourage young people from experimenting with the drug and more severely punish dealers.

In the past, possession or distribution of ecstasy was considered a third-degree offense. Most first-time drug offenders received probation.

Under the new law, however, anyone caught possessing one half ounce or less of the drug faces a maximum five-year prison sentence and anyone with five or more ounces of the drug could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine.

"The new law puts ecstasy dealers on notice: We won't tolerate trafficking of this drug, and we will punish you severely if you do," Whitman said in a statement. "This new law sends a message to New Jersey's young people as well: Stay away from ecstasy."

Ecstasy, or "e," first emerged in European clubs and later soared in popularity as part of American nightlife, particularly in major cities. Usually taken as a tablet but available as a powder to be snorted or smoked, the drug — which is both a stimulant and a hallucinogen — is sold on U.S. streets for between $20 and $30 per dose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Marianne Waterbury said she and other University administrators believe ecstasy use is not uncommon at Princeton.

"We suspect that there is in fact much more use of ecstasy on campus than what comes to my attention," she said. "It is definitely a source of concern and I do not believe that the eating clubs will be immune from it. One would hope that given how dangerous the drug is, and how risky it can be for those who use it, our students would be smart enough to stay away from it."

According to Waterbury, however, the new state law has not prompted any changes in University penalties for ecstasy possession.

If the University were to change its penalties — which now range from disciplinary probation to suspension — the faculty and student discipline committee would have to agree to any modifications, Waterbury said.

Current penalties for drug use on campus vary depending on the seriousness of the offense, she added.

Crime Prevention Specialist Barry Weiser said all Public Safety officers have been notified of the new state law and will cooperate with Borough Police to enforce it accordingly. Nevertheless, he said he does not believe ecstasy use is prevalent on campus.

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"This could be a problem tomorrow," Weiser said, "but it isn't today."

According to the NIDA, ecstasy use among high school seniors nationwide has escalated. Eight percent of students reported trying the illegal drug at least once in 1999, up from about 6 percent in 1998.

Studies conducted by the New Jersey Higher Education Consortium indicate a smaller percentage of college students in the state use the drug — a mere 3 percent in 1997. But consortium estimates still suggest ecstasy usage has increased by 500 percent during the last five years.

Psychological side effects of ecstasy include confusion, depression, insomnia, anxiety, paranoia and persistent memory problems, according to the NIDA Webpage.

Common physical complications are muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, chills or sweating that can emerge even weeks after the drug has been taken.

Fatalities from ecstasy use, though rare, have been reported. The stimulant effects of the drug combined with the hot, crowded club environments often can lead to dehydration, heat stroke and heart or kidney failure.

Recent studies also suggest that even brief, light use of the drug may lead to brain damage — including memory, learning and general intelligence loss — weeks after use.