A Rave Prosecution That Fizzled

By Josh Tyrangiel

Federal prosecutors went after BBQ, a New Orleans dance-promotion company, because partyers who attended its legendary Big Easy raves often ended up in the emergency room with drug-related symptoms. The idea was to challenge BBQ under the Crack House Statute, a 1986 federal law making it illegal to maintain a property for the purpose of drug use; the law had never been used against rave or nightclub promoters. But a bizarre plea deal reached in the case last week will probably satisfy no one. The feds admitted they have no evidence that the company's managers were distributing drugs. In turn BBQ admits it could have done more to prevent ravers from taking ecstasy before and during its parties. BBQ's raves will be allowed to go on, but pacifiers and glow sticks will be banned. BBQ will also ban "chill rooms," where ravers go to cool down from ecstasy's body-temperature-raising effects. So while the raves will continue, more than likely so will the overdoses.

--Reported by John Cloud

With reporting by John Cloud