N.Y. Considers Ephedra Ban

 York lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban over-the-counter sales of the herbal stimulant ephedra, Newsday reported June 10.

Sold as a dietary supplement for weight loss and muscle building, ephedra has been linked to more than 100 deaths nationwide.

"New York is going to move now and ban this," said New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick). "It should be done by the feds, but hopefully they will come along. If not, we hope that state after state will move to save lives."

If the measure passes, New York would become the second state after Illinois to ban ephedra.