Electric Zoo Returns With New Drug Policies In 2014

[LogicSoDeveloped]

Electric Zoo producers confirmed on Facebook that the EDM festival will return to New York's Randall's Island this summer, despite sparking a national debate last year when two concert-goers died of drug-related causes.

The 2014 festival will feature new safety measures, according to the Wall Street Journal, including hiring plainclothes security guards, drug-sniffing dogs at all entrances, background checks on vendors and employees and providing free or cheap electrolytes. Ticket holders will also have to watch a PSA about drug safety before having their passes validated.

"We are incredibly excited to bring Electric Zoo back to New York,” E-Zoo organizers Mike Bindra and Laura De Palma said in a statement. “Over the past five years, Electric Zoo has grown tremendously, becoming a critically acclaimed, internationally recognized music festival. The opportunity to again host Electric Zoo on Randall’s Island is a responsibility we take seriously, and we look forward to expanding our safety and security measures in order to further improve the concert experience for our fans.”

Last year, E-Zoo canceled the final day of the three-day festival after Olivia Rotondo, 20 and Jeffrey Russ, 23, died of an MDMA-related drug overdose. Four others were hospitalized, 31 people were arrested, and there was one report of sexual assault. By taking new precautions regarding drug safety, the organizers hope to avoid the dangers associated with large-scale EDM festivals.

E-Zoo, which will celebrate its sixth year on Randall's Island, is scheduled for Labor Day weekend and tickets will be available for purchase April 29. Party on, but responsibly.

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/...icies_n_5193095.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

 

[Felonious Monk]

What bullshit. "MDMA-related drug overdose." Which means they bought an RC they were told was MDMA, took too much, and OD'd. Actual MDMA had nothing to do with the situation. Only the stupidity of kids from the NJ/NY.

I'm sure it'll still sell out, it'll just be even shittier than it was before.

 

[S.J.B.]

What bullshit. "MDMA-related drug overdose." Which means they bought an RC they were told was MDMA, took too much, and OD'd. Actual MDMA had nothing to do with the situation. Only the stupidity of kids from the NJ/NY.

The woman (Olivia) actually did die after taking unadulterated MDMA.

 

[Felonious Monk]

The woman (Olivia) actually did die after taking unadulterated MDMA.

Oh ok. I remembered the toxicology reports coming back as methylone or some other cathinone.

What did she die from them? Cause if I remember correctly (which I clearly don't), she was the one who only took 1 or 2 as well... Pre-existing condition maybe?

 

[phenethylo J]

They should pass a law requiring events like these to have booths were people can test their drugs. It will save more lives than just concentrating on security and having undercover that pretend to befriend some one only to ruin their life just for selling or even giving away a single dose of lsd.

 

[spacejunk]

Oh ok. I remembered the toxicology reports coming back as methylone or some other cathinone.

What did she die from them? Cause if I remember correctly (which I clearly don't), she was the one who only took 1 or 2 as well... Pre-existing condition maybe?

People do actually die from MDMA.
Rare as it might be...it can - and does happen.

 

[wayab]

wow sounds like so much fun

 

[Jackeh]

Oh ok. I remembered the toxicology reports coming back as methylone or some other cathinone.

What did she die from them? Cause if I remember correctly (which I clearly don't), she was the one who only took 1 or 2 as well... Pre-existing condition maybe?

Probably just a direct MDMA death. A very very very rare % of the population may be in danger from an average dose of MDMA, IIRC females have slight differences in their reactions than males and are at a higher risk.

Not sure why though, or even if that is 100% true, I just happen to remember reading it somewhere (probably on here or Erowid).

 

[_DankOpiAmp_]

Are the bastards forcing them to pay for the security as well? I mean holy shit they are even forcing you to watch propaganda before your pass is validated.

I read in the literature on the subject that pure MDMA is exceedingly difficult to overdose on by itself. These one-off, possibly entirely falsified cases are irrelevant.

 

[.:Holy::Toast:.]

Just saying I would never want to go to a festival with such high security presence, especially drug sniffing dogs.

 

[ro4eva]

Re. MDMA overdose - This is what terrifies me about not just MDMA, but any recreational drug which is sold as a powder to the end user. 500mg is really not that much in terms of volume, or what you see in a baggie. It's so incredibly easy for someone to mistakenly "eyeball" way too much.

Maybe it would be best for the government to legalize plants first and go from there. Legalize the regulated sale of Cannabis Sativa, Papaver Somniferum, Erythroxylum Coca, and the Khat plant and see how that goes first? I'm mostly concerned about the safety of others, but I also acknowledge that what you choose to do with your body should be your choice.

IIRC, one young female OD'd after ingesting something upwards of 500mg of MDMA while at Electric Zoo festival. It was very tragic to read about it, as she was only in her early 20s. MDMA is not THC. It's not a drug with such a huge therapeutic range as marijuana. Too much at once can definitely kill you, at least I'm pretty sure of that.

And if 200mg tends to floor a seasoned male user who has a bodily mass 1.5 to 2 times that of an average female of equal age, you can imagine what 500mg all at once can do to a 120-150 pound female. Poor girl - it must have been a horrible experience, but I digress...

Depending on the PSA video contents, I believe this may be a good thing.

What I mean is, if the Public Service Announcement Video has to do with harm reduction, IMO, that's a great idea.

However, if the Public Service Announcement Video is gonna feature the type of material that you'd expect from Ronald Reagan's wife, or his drug czar ("Just Say No"), then, unfortunately it may be a waste of time.

 

[my3rdeye]

They should pass a law requiring events like these to have booths were people can test their drugs. It will save more lives than just concentrating on security and having undercover that pretend to befriend some one only to ruin their life just for selling or even giving away a single dose of lsd.

There is a big event here in Canada that has them. It's my understanding they can charge someone who runs one with possession even if they never actually touch the drugs in the USA. Without some sort agreement or compromise from local law enforcement a drug testing booth won't work. I just watched them ignore 10 thousand stoners on 4/20, they can turn a blind eye to things if they want to. Or maybe we just need a 100 militant drug reformers to surround the booth and protect it. Narcs here never charge gang busters into a crowd at a concert because they fear us, and they should.

 

[Dresden]

We need to bring back all night discoteques with house drug dealers. Screw plainclothes (undercover) security guards and drug sniffing dogs.

 

[.:Holy::Toast:.]

There is a big event here in Canada that has them. It's my understanding they can charge someone who runs one with possession even if they never actually touch the drugs in the USA. Without some sort agreement or compromise from local law enforcement a drug testing booth won't work. I just watched them ignore 10 thousand stoners on 4/20, they can turn a blind eye to things if they want to. Or maybe we just need a 100 militant drug reformers to surround the booth and protect it. Narcs here never charge gang busters into a crowd at a concert because they fear us, and they should.

I know shambhala had drug testing booths, I love festivals in bc though the police presence is very small

 

[JWills20]

Sigh... The only good change is providing electrolyte drinks at a reasonable price. Everything else is bullshit and won't help anything.

 

[treezy z]

no fucking thanks, i'm good with drug dogs and watching "this is your brain... this is your brain on drugs" just to get in.

 

[BananasAndOranges]

People do actually die from MDMA.
Rare as it might be...it can - and does happen.

I actually heard more recently of a OD of MDMA and Bupe. The Bupe. was taken after the MDMA for a comedown killer I Guess, I will have to find the link, apparently , the doctors said the mdma and bupe combined caused a bad reaction. wack

 

[Dresden]

It's possible to die from a single, unadulterated dose of MDMA, but it's also possible to die in a car crash while driving to the grocery store, just not likely.

 

[spacejunk]

We're all going to die from something.
But it is just untrue to say that MDMA cannot be lethal.

People died occasionally from 'ecstasy' long before research chemicals became so prevalent.

 

[subotai]

It's possible to die from a single, unadulterated dose of MDMA, but it's also possible to die in a car crash while driving to the grocery store, just not likely.

statistically speaking actually, a car accident is one of the more likely ways a human will die

just felt like saying "statistically speaking" really, I have no idea how to feel about Electric Zoo being on quasi-lockdown