The Senate is poised to pass legislation that would give federal prosecutors broad new powers to shut down RAVEs, hemp festivals, marijuana rallies, concerts and other events and punish business owners and activists for hosting or promoting events. Because of its broad language, the proposed law would also potentially subject people to enormous federal sentences if some of their guests smoked marijuana at their parties or barbecues. This includes promoters of national acts that perform at the Nationwide and Schottenstein arenas, as well as the Promowest Pavilion.

The bill, known as the Reducing American’s Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act (RAVE Act), was just introduced in the Senate on June 18th and has already passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. It is moving very rapidly and could be passed by the Senate as early as this week. While it purports to be aimed at ecstasy and other club drugs, it gives the federal government enormous power to fine and imprison event promoters, even if they’ve never smoked marijuana.

Health advocates worry that the bill will endanger our nation’s youth. If enacted, licensed and law-abiding business owners may stop hosting RAVEs or other events that federal authorities don’t like, out of fear of massive fines and prison sentences. Thus, the law would drive RAVEs and other musical events further underground and away from public health and safety regulations. It would also discourage business owners from enacting smart harm-reduction measures to protect their customers. By insinuating that selling bottled water and offering “cool off” rooms is proof that owners and promoters know drug use is occurring at their events, this bill may make business owners too afraid to implement such harm-reduction measures, and the safety of our kids will suffer.

Stop the Senate from enacting this reactionary legislation by writing letters and calling our U.S. Representatives. To take action from your computer, go to www.drugpolicy.org.