From: [m--eg--n] at [ix.netcom.com](Marnie Regen )
Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs,alt.drugs.culture,alt.drugs.hard
Subject: Florida bans sale of ephedrine
Date: 26 Apr 1996 13:51:39 GMT

Thu, 25 Apr 1996 17:20:39 PDT

         TALLAHASSEE, Fla, (Reuter) - Florida stores were ordered  
Thursday to stop selling many herbal supplements containing 
ephedrine, a non-regulated stimulant sold in health food shops, 
after the death of a young man on spring break last month, state 
officials said. 
         The drug, marketed under such product names as ``Herbal  
Ecstacy'' and ``Ultimate Xphoria'' has been linked to the death 
of Peter Schlendof, 20, of New York. He died of an ephedrine 
overdose while vacationing at the popular spring break resort on 
the Florida panhandle, a medical examiner said. 
         ``This drug has been suspected in the deaths of about 15  
people across the country,'' said Florida Department of 
Agriculture spokesman Terrence McElroy. ``But as far as we know 
this is the first incident where a coroner has listed the cause 
of death as being connected to ephedrine.'' 
         Derived from Ephera plants grown in Asia, ephedrine is  
marketed as an energy-enhancing natural supplement that 
increases sexual sensations, heightens awareness and produces 
feelings of euphoria. Medically, it is used as a bronchial 
dilator for asthmatics. 
         Unlike the federal Food and Drug Administration, the state  
agriculture department does not have the authority to impose a 
blanket ban on the sale of ephedrine-based products. 
         But officials said the department has begun sending  
inspectors to individual stores to issue stop-sale orders on the 
grounds that the products can be hazardous to human health.