How Congress is Interfering with the Music Scene

Remember when Congress decided that raves were harmful to society and were thought to  condone the use of drugs instead of discourage it?

It is fall and legislation concerning this controversial issue is surfacing. Putting aside statistics, let us consider how difficult it has been to control the use of drug paraphernalia in sports stadiums, concert halls, college campuses, and the back-alleys of urban concrete locations. So why has Congress recently decided to push the ban on raves when drug use has been a prevalent issue within the past 50 years? Why now?

Back when the raves were locked underground, it was difficult for society to understand the effects of the music scene. Glow sticks, pacifiers, chilled air-conditioning rooms, and items as crucial as water bottles were suddenly used as a means of promoting the “drug scene”. Ironically, Congress enacted the Crack House Statute as apart of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which in turn created the RAVE Act (Reducing Americans’ Vulnerability to Ecstasy) as a way to control the public’s opportunity to host or promote parties in buildings where they believe foster drug havens.

According to Drug Abuse Warning Network, “Ecstasy mentions in emergency visits grew 1,040 percent between 1994 and 1999” in this abcnews report. Congress has used the RAVE Act to pinpoint the music scene as a result for the spikes in drug-related emergency visits. While drug-use occurs everyday, many of their efforts are spent in denial of this very idea. 

Historically, the rave culture has been a haven to promote a fun and respectful atmosphere for all its attendees. To say that its promoters encourage the use of drug paraphernalia by overcharging for bottled water is stating that hot-dog vendors at Safeco Field are doing the same. Why has this idea succumb to outrageous claims against this necessity? Water is an essential item in survival and as much as Congress believes otherwise, it has led society to believe their efforts are more focused on blaming this music culture for drug promotion as an easy way out.

Electronic Dance Music(EDM) has worked its way through the mainstream culture and is making it more difficult for legislation to pass due to its increasing popularity. Hip-hop artists like Nicki Minaj and Pitbull have teamed up with some of the most famous EDM djs to collaborate in their efforts to produce good music. So when a culture that has faced so much controversy and hatred weasels its way into the hands of bank-breaking producers, what will Congress have to say about that?