PRINTER'S NO. 583
No. 53 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, O'PAKE, STOUT, COSTA, RAFFERTY, KITCHEN,
LEMMOND AND CONTI, MARCH 24, 2003
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 24, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
2 study on the herbal dietary supplement ephedra.
3 WHEREAS, Ephedra, an herbal dietary supplement used in
4 products advertised as promoting weight loss or boosting energy,
5 has been linked to heart attacks, blood clotting disorders, high
6 blood pressure and other dangerous side effects; and
7 WHEREAS, Ephedra was implicated in the heatstroke death of
8 Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, who was using a product
9 known as Xenadrine RFA-1 which contained the supplement; and
10 WHEREAS, The supplement has been banned by the International
11 Olympic Committee, the National Football League and the National
12 Collegiate Athletic Association and is the subject of a
13 scientific review by the Federal Government; and
14 WHEREAS, Warnings about the health effects of the substance
15 have been issued by the American Medical Association and Health
16 Canada, which have recommended banning sales and use of ephedra;
17 therefore be it
1 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
2 Commission to undertake a study of ephedra; and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
4 its findings and recommendations to the Senate within 120 days
5 of adoption of this resolution.
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