MDMA, better known as ecstasy, experienced a slight drop in use early in the 2000s. But now, the drug is back and bigger than ever. What used to be trafficked in fairly limited quantities is now being brought across the Canadian border by the truckload.
According to the Free Press, truckloads of the drug are coming into Detroit as the city is a seeming entryway for the illegal ecstasy trade. Super labs in Canada are producing more powerful pills in a greater quantity than ever before and driving this trade is a new generation of ecstasy users.
The report states that young people are consistently underestimating the danger of the drug, with more of them trying it for the first time every year. It seems that those who initially used the party drug at raves in the 1990s stopped using when its dangers became apparent. This new generation, however, hasn’t had that firsthand experience and therefore isn’t scared of the drug.
While most people in the country are accustomed to hearing about drug busts “at the border”, the Canadian border is the one of concern when it comes to MDMA. In June, more than 250,000 pills were discovered in a truck crossing over from Canada and just last month border agents seized another 80,000 coming over in Port Huron.
There are countless stories of the ecstasy pills being trafficked over the past year or so and the increase is apparent in the statewide headlines.
A feel-good drug that gives people a sense of brotherly love and happiness, people are reluctant to believe such a drug could be harmful. But, it is. In addition, these newer more potent formulas may even be more dangerous than the rave drugs were around ten years ago.
Even if the users of ecstasy don’t recognize the dangers, the courts do. And because there’s a rise in trafficking busts, you can believe that prosecutors will be going after MDMA offenses with a vengeance. If you’re charged with trafficking or even just possession of ecstasy you could be facing serious penalties.
Under Michigan law, possession of ecstasy can land you up to 10 years in prison—no matter how much you had. This means you could be looking at an extended stay within the Michigan prison system even for a relatively small amount of drugs.
Luckily, if you have a clean criminal record you may be allowed to serve probation in lieu of a prison sentence, though this depends on the circumstance of your case. If you’re facing charges of possession of ecstasy or even of possession with intent to distribute, we can help you work through your legal problems. Contact us today for a free consultation on your case.
