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    Mark Landavazo and Henry Gabaldon were in uniform and driving a marked patrol car when they bought meals at the drive-through lane Oct. 8 of a Burger King restaurant in Los Lunas, New Mexico.

    After eating about half of their burgers, they began to suspect that the meat contained an illegal drug. They used a field test to confirm the substance was marijuana and then went to a hospital for a medical check.

    "It gives a whole new meaning to the word 'Whopper,"' the officers' attorney, Sam Bregman, said Monday.

    "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." Bregman acknowledged that the situation "seems somewhat humorous at first glance" but he said it could have had "deadly serious" consequences.

    A civil lawsuit was filed in the State District Court in Bernalillo County alleging personal injury, negligence, battery and violation of fair practices. The lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages to be determined at a trial, along with legal costs.

    Officials at Miami-based Burger King declined comment, citing a company policy against discussing pending litigation.

    (Agencies)