Thank you for reiterating the point of this post – that street ecstasy may not contain MDMA and that without information, taking street ecstasy can be dangerous. I wish you had cited your sources for the information, that always makes it more useful.

The problem with sites such as ecstasydata.org is that testing of pills and the publication of their content mostly happens ‘after the fact’ – by the time the information is published the pills are usually well distributed and the information is of no use to anyone trying to find information about the pill they may be about to buy or take.

I would like to see pill testing made accessible in a timely manner, to avoid this issue. It would be easy to say ‘don’t take pills’ but the fact is, people do, they are willing to take that risk, and if the government is serious about minimising harm then giving users accurate information about the content of pills in a timely manner is a good way to do this.

I agree that MDMA is not ‘safe’ (all drugs have risks), but your last statement unfortunately detracts from your comment overall by making unsubstantiated value judgements about joy and what is meaningful. Who decides what is meaningful? Who decides what kinds of joy are ‘right’ and ‘wrong’? What data backs up your statement? Did you know that MDMA is being researched as a potential aid in PTSD therapy? I wonder if those people would agree that it grossly distracts them from achieving joy by doing meaningful things.

Given that I’ve occasionally indulged in said substance – and yet I’ve completed a PhD, DJed at festivals around the world, and am now creating an internet startup, I think you can go revise your expectations about drug users not doing meaningful stuff in their lives. I know many people like me too but everyone’s too damn afraid to admit as such because of the social stigma and risk’s to employment (which are mostly because the media continues propagating fallacies about drugs).

Personally, MDMA got me out of a depressive rut in my life and now my life is more joyful than it’s ever been. Please stop making assumptions.

These substances are usually stronger or their effects have later onset, resulting in frequent overdosing. Main dangers are hyperthermia, arrhythmia, heart attack..

Detailed and fresh (2009/10) testing data are published on ecstasydata.org

I don’t think pure MDMA is “safe”. It grossly distract users from learning how to achieve joy by doing something meaningful in life.

Jan

But the analogy still stands. The only way the government interferes is by restricting the supply… it doesn’t even tax the drug market.

Note, a free market should of course not be confused with a perfect market. The latter of which might be more aptly described as a neo-liberal’s dream.

“There are deliberate attempts to reduce supply, there are attempts to roll up production and supply networks, and there’s control of the information about the product and the markets. There are differing degrees of enforcement on different products, and all of this takes place in the shadow of a vast and regulated market for alcohol. So yeah, it’s not regulation in the strict sense that the housing market is regulated, but it’s still a market that has regulation that affects the behaviour of both suppliers and demanders.”

Which explains the concept of how the government is regulating the market.

You’re also right that my knowledge of economics is basic at best (working to fix that you’ll be pleased to hear). However, while it’s clear that the market for E is not a free market, it’s also clear that the kind of government regulation pushed for by drug reformists is completely absent.

And if what it takes to get people commenting and discussing the issues is me making a dick of myself by being ignorant about economics, I’ll take that (while quietly going and studying economics some more).

This is not an example of a free market at all. Its a completely regulated market in that its banned, and the only market exists is an illicit one.

In order to be a neo liberals dream it would need perfect information – i.e. product knowledge. This doesn’t exist.

While you are correct on your comments on the perverse incentives created by silly drug laws, your economics knowledge is a lil suspect.

Currently there is research sponsored by MAPS being conducted into possible uses for MDMA in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and end-of-life anxiety, so it may emerge that it’s more useful than originally thought, which could lead to a rethink of its classification under the UN Convention as Schedule 1.

Meanwhile, I completely agree with you. The comparative harms from ecstasy when compared with a number of other substances are minimal, it’s not addictive and not associated with violent crime, and has reported (anecdotal) benefits for many users. I believe that prohibition has had the opposite effect to the harm reduction message we are being sold, and that people will continue to buy and use it regardless of its legal status. I also believe that a regulated market for MDMA would reduce the risks involved in using street ecstasy. In the meantime, I hope people reading this will take something away in terms of what they can do to reduce the risks for themselves, since the government has failed to act in their interests.

* It’s Class B in New Zealand.

its time the politicos got their head out of america’s posterior and legalised a recreational drug that is known to improve a population’s mood and behaviour.

what are the side effects of MDMA? a 15 year study shows 1 major one, only: a tendency to form inappropriate relationships. wow. that’s really bad.

As far as I know, the lab test results are published on pillreports.com (NZ section). They are mixed in with field tests and user reports, but the form specifies which way they’ve been tested.

It would be interesting to know the results for substances in current circulation in NZ?