7 States Seek to Stop Sales of ‘Herbal Ecstacy’

California and six other states filed lawsuits seeking to stop sales of Herbal Ecstacy, which is billed as a safe alternative to the illegal drug Ecstasy. The lawsuits allege that Herbal Ecstacy, made by Global World Media Corp. of Venice Beach, is illegal because it has not been approved as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration, which classifies it as a dietary supplement. Sean Shayan, president and founder of Global, said his product is not a drug and that no injuries or deaths have been linked to the pills. Herbal Ecstacy and similar brands were banned in Florida after the 1996 death of a 20-year-old who took a similar product, Ultimate Xphoria. The other states suing are Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The lawsuits also civil penalties, court costs and refunds for consumers who purchased it.