Sales of Ephedra Banned in California and New York

In under a month, two states, California and New York, implemented bans on over-the-counter sales of supplements containing ephedra after increasing reports that the herbal stimulant can cause an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and seizures.

The two most recent legislative actions by states to remove these products from the market come just as the debate on the safety of ephedra on Captiol Hill is approaching the boiling point. On Nov. 5, a handful of lawmakers, including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Az.), pushed for a congressional resolution calling for an immediate ban on ephedra-containing products.

Some …