Another weird result of
the War on Some Drugs.
In promotional videos and pamphlets by the DEA which are given to local police departments, the presence of glowsticks at a rave or party is potential evidence that drugs are being used, allowing for probable cause for searching partygoers without a warrant. Other items so labelled include pacifiers and dust masks, even though the former are also used as "costuming" and the latter are legitimately used simply because raves are sometimes held in dusty warehouses or have fog machines.
Recently, following a drug bust at a New Orleans rave, the promotion company (Barbecue, inc.) was charged with running a crack house under a 1986 statute, citing the presence of glowsticks, bottled water, a chill room, and even the presence of DanceSafe, a harm-reduction non-profit agency. The U.S. district attorney extorted a plea agreement which prohibited glowsticks from future events, as they are considered drug paraphernalia.
Along with glowsticks, the company must also ban Vicks VapoRub, masks, pacifiers, massage tables and chill rooms from all future events. Yep. Chill rooms. Can't have anywhere quiet to relax and talk to people.
In an interview regarding the ACLU's legal protest of this settlement, the acting U.S. Attorney Jim Letton, in moment of startling honesty, stated, "We were cognizant of the legitimate Constitutional rights of individuals but
also had to consider the welfare, health and safety of the citizens and had to strike a balance of various factors in reaching that decision."
Translation? Your constitutionally-protected rights simply don't count when it comes to the war on drugs.