ALBANY (AP) A New York state lawmaker who has sponsored bills targeting synthetic marijuana is calling on the NFL to require players to take drug tests for the substance.
State Senator Jeff Klein cited reports of NFL players using synthetic marijuana because existing drug screenings don't test for it.
Klein, who has sponsored state laws prohibiting the substance, says the NCAA has already added synthetic pot to its list of banned substances. He says the NFL should screen for the drug to protect players and send a signal to the public about its dangers.
The Bronx Democrat says nearly 7,000 New Yorkers went to emergency rooms last year after using the drug, which is designed to mimic the effects of marijuana but often has very different effects on the body.
