People selling or using the illegal drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy, will face harsher penalties if found guilty of possessing the drug.

A new law went into effect Jan. 1, making the possession of MDMA a class X felony, and allowing those arrested for selling MDMA to be charged similarly to people selling other dangerous street drugs. Class X felonies are offenses that mandate 6 to 30 years in prison without the option of probation.

Rep. David Wirsing, R-Sycamore, sponsored the new law.

Wirsing said his office received requests from several state’s attorney’s offices and law enforcement agencies about loopholes and clarity problems that needed to be addressed and expanded regarding penalties associated with the drug’s use and distribution.

“At first, this was approached as something new that was surfacing, and in the initial legislation, [ecstasy] was not thought of as a major issue; but it quickly became one,” Wirsing said.

A press release from Wirsing’s office says studies have shown that using MDMA can have a lasting effect on mood and memory, and can quickly push a user’s body temperature and heart rate to dangerous levels, causing heart attack, seizure or stroke.

The law also allows prosecutors to consider the use of drug-induced homicide and infliction of great bodily harm charges, allowing states to charge street level dealers who cause deaths or serious injuries through the sale of illegal narcotics.

“Ecstasy’s use has risen at an alarming rate,” Wirsing stated in a press release. “What’s worse, it’s being targeted specifically at teens and young adults, so the problem is especially serious on college campuses.”