SENATE, No. 1154

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 16, 1996

By Senator CODEY

An Act concerning the sale of ephedrine to minors and supplementing chapter 33 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. A person who sells or offers to sell to a person under 18 years of age any product containing ephedrine is a disorderly person.

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill makes it a disorderly persons offense (punishable by up to six months' imprisonment or a fine of up to $1,000, or both) to sell or offer to sell to a person under 18 years of age any product containing ephedrine.

    Ephedrine is a stimulant contained in various products, from tablets sold in health food stores to special fruit drinks, which has been advertised to young people as a "natural alternative" to illegal drugs that promises euphoria, heightened sexual awareness and enhanced athletic performance. The federal Food and Drug Administration has received reports of 15 deaths and almost 400 cases of side effects from heart attacks and seizures to psychosis attributable to the use of products containing ephedrine.

Makes it a disorderly persons offense to sell any product containing ephedrine to a minor.