Burger King Sued Over Dope in Police Buns

The plaintiffs' lawyer was determined to get the joke in. "It gives a whole new meaning to the word Whopper," Sam Bregman told reporters as he announced that his clients, two police officers, were suing the fast food chain Burger King.

In early October the officers stopped at a Burger King drive-in in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Sitting in their squad car nearby, munching on their burgers, they noticed a strange yet familiar taste.

Officer Henry Gabaldon says he recognised the taste as marijuana. He and his colleague, Mark Landavazo, found small pieces of a green, leafy substance sprinkled on top of their burgers. Using a field test kit, the officers found that the substance was marijuana.

When Los Lunas police went to investigate, a Burger King employee denied any knowledge of the incident. However police noticed a glass marijuana pipe sticking out of his front pocket and arrested him. Two employees have been charged.

Now the officers are suing the chain alleging personal injury, negligence, battery and violation of fair practices.

"The idea that these hoodlums would put marijuana into a hamburger and therefore attempt to impair law enforcement officers trying to do their jobs is outrageous," said their lawyer. "God forbid these officers didn't realise their burgers were laced with pot and then were called to a violent situation where they'd have to draw their firearms," Mr Bregman said. "Their lives were placed in danger because of these idiots and Burger King."

Burger King did not comment on the case, although it says on its website that it cannot guarantee that its food adheres to "standard product formulations".

"Variations may occur depending on the supplier and on product assembly on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis," it notes.