Updated: Wed Jul. 02 2008 2:52:03 PM

ctvtoronto.ca

Police are warning club-goers against taking products sold as herbal ecstasy after a patron of Toronto's Guvernment nightclub died earlier this week and another fell ill.

The 55-year-old man collapsed early Monday morning after allegedly taking "Pure Rush," a product sold over the counter as a natural, safe and legal alternative to ecstasy. The man collapsed shortly after ingesting the substance and was pronounced dead in hospital.

Another woman collapsed at the club the following day after taking ecstasy or the so-called herbal alternative. The woman collapsed early Tuesday morning and is currently in critical condition in an area hospital.

Police said the man had a history of high blood pressure but they don't know if it was a factor in his death.

Guvernment owner/operator Charles Khabouth alleged that the victim bought the substance at a "head shop" on Yonge Street and ingested it before he entered the club, adding the Guvernment has a strictly-enforced drug search for anyone coming in.

"The search is so thorough that we probably see 50 people over the weekend who get scared by how thorough it is and don't want to come in," he told CTV.ca in a phone interview on Wednesday. "We do not take chances."

His staff will confiscate any drug that is not easily identified as a common legal substance such as Tylenol or Advil, he said.

"We have buckets of water where the search happens. If we find anything we do not understand, it will be dropped in the bucket or people can just walk away," said Khabouth. "Anything that would say 'ecstasy' would definitely be dropped."

Ecstasy, a member of the amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs, gives users a euphoric sensation. It is popular in the club scene and is said to allow users to stay awake longer than usual.

"Pure Rush" is often sold at stores known for selling drug paraphernalia. Similar products, calling themselves "natural" or "herbal" ecstasy, can also be purchased online. They often contain of highly levels of caffeine or ephedra, a Chinese herb and stimulant used in asthma medicines and decongestants.