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Raves To Resume At LA Coliseum

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A ban on raves at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has ended, four months after the death of a 15-year-old girl who overdosed on ecstasy.

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The Coliseum Commission on Wednesday overturned a moratorium on the events at the venue.

Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch told the Los Angeles Times that the joint city, state and county commission was satisfied after receiving reports on increased doctors and nurses, strict enforcement of an 18-year-old age limit and a 2 a.m. curfew on raves held at the stadium there in August and October. Both were scheduled before the moratorium began June 30.

"Our commissioners said we've established some fantastic parameters, so if these preventative measures work and other events have gone off well, then we can lift the moratorium," Lynch said.

Commission member and rave opponent Rick Caruso -- who had to miss the meeting because of a family commitment -- said he was "shocked that action was taken" and said it was his understanding that no move would be made on the moratorium.

"I strongly disagree with the action of the commission," Caruso said. "I think it's underhanded. It's not a legal issue; it's morally wrong."

LAPD Deputy Chief Pat Gannon, who expressed concerns about police resources at the events in the summer, said he was also surprised the ban was lifted.

"I'm still concerned when it comes to the electronic music festivals, about the level of narcotics usage," he told the Times.

"The Coliseum, promoters, the police department, fire department, county health and others need to continue to work very hard to reduce the use of drugs such as Ecstasy."

Sasha Rodriguez, 15, overdosed on ecstasy and collapsed at a huge rave known as the Electric Daisy Carnival, which brought 185,000 people to the Coliseum over two days and saw more than 100 people hospitalized. Rodriguez was taken to a hospital in a coma and died a few days later.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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