July 14, 2000
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT— Oldemiro Oscar Lopes, 24, was fined $1,200 last Friday for possessing "ecstasy," an illegal drug that has led to several deaths in southern Canada.
Lopes pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance in Iqaluit’s justice of the peace court July 10.
The money is to be used to benefit the Iqaluit homeless shelter says an RCMP press release issued July 12.
Lopes had been remanded into custody for two days prior to his court appearance. He has since been released.
Ecstasy, also known by the chemical name methylendioxyamphetamine, is known to cause some users to lose consciousness, suffer seizures, muscle cramping, hallucinations and an increased heart beat.
It was recently found to be the apparent cause of the death of Iqaluit resident Linda Mark, who recently passed away in Ottawa.
Police say ecstasy can cause users to remain awake for two to three days after taking it.
Often associated with raves — large, crowded, often illegally-organized parties during which loud, electronica and hip-hop music is played — ecstasy has lead to public pressure to ban or regulate such gatherings.
Some users have died or suffered severe liver damage while using ecstasy at raves because of dehydration.
Police say ecstasy usually comes in a tablet or capsule form and has a street value of $20-$40 for each pill.
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