What is Ecstasy?
Ecstasy
Originally used as a therapeutic drug in the 1970's, ecstasy has emerged as a widely popular street drug commonly associated with the youth dance scene in the United States. The active ingredient MDMA, creates an overwhelming sense of euphoria in the user, but can also lead to an increased heart rate and dehydration, which is sometimes a dangerous combination in the club environments commonly associated with the drug. Federal Prosecution
Like all other illicit drugs, ecstasy use is not typically prosecutable under federal law. However, over recent years, the federal government has shifted considerable attention on the international and domestic ecstasy trade, which has been evidenced by an increased focus on disrupting the manufacture and distribution of ecstasy. This increased effort has been matched legislatively with heavier federal penalties for the distribution and manufacture of ecstasy. State Prosecution
States, as with other illicit drugs, have a wide range of fines and penalties for anything from mere possession to the sale of large quantities. In the case of ecstasy, many states have increased the minimum and maximum penalties use to prosecute ecstasy, in an effort to mirror federal efforts to disrupt the spread of the drug. The following is a breakdown of the parameters of state prosecution: - Possession:
- Minimum/Maximum Fine: $500-$750,000
- Minimum/Maximum Jail Time: 8 months-15 years
- Sale:
- Minimum/Maximum Fine: $5,000-$1,000,000
- Minimum/Maximum Jail Time: 1 year-Life in Prison
Should I Hire an Attorney if I Have Been Accused or Arrested for the Possession or Sale of Ecstasy?
If you have been accused of or arrested for possessing or selling ecstasy, you may find the aid of a criminal defense attorney extremely helpful. Because ecstasy cases have faced increased scrutiny and more active prosecutions, the advice of a defense attorney may help both the procedural aspects of criminal prosecution but also to understand better your jurisdictions attitudes toward this drug and its prosecution. |
