As abuse of nitrous oxide has exploded in recent years, with an increasing number of people being hospitalized or even dying from its use, Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15) has been working with a group of parents from across the country on a new bipartisan bill to curb the widespread consumer sale of this addictive inhalant. Read a news release about the bill.
Social media trends are fueling misuse of nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as “laughing gas,” amongst teens and young adults. Products are often sold under names such as “Galaxy Gas,” “Baking Bad,” “Miami Magic,” and “Goo Sticks,” and marketed with neon colors, sweet flavor descriptors, and even people partying on the beach. Despite companies falsely marketing it as a harmless party drug, nitrous oxide can result in oxygen deprivation, neurological damage, paralysis, blood clot complications, and even death. Nitrous oxide DUI incidents have also caused injuries to others and pose broad public safety risks.
The Nitrous Oxide Safety Act (H.R.7945) would ban retail sales, including online, of nitrous oxide products to consumers, while preserving access for legitimate medical, dental, industrial, food production, automotive, and research uses. Although nitrous oxide has important professional applications, public health experts warn that there is no safe level of inhalation outside of strict clinical protocols. Under Rep. Mullin’s proposal, nitrous oxide cannot be sold to consumers regardless of whether the product is labeled as a food product or any warning label. Anyone selling nitrous oxide for one of the identified legitimate uses would need to show that the product is not getting into the hands of consumers or potentially face civil or criminal penalties.
Specifically, the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act would:
- Prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide products to consumers for household use;
- Strengthen regulatory clarity to prevent retail and online mislabeling or youth-targeted marketing of nitrous oxide canisters.
- Preserve access for licensed medical and dental professionals using nitrous oxide under established clinical protocols; legitimate industrial, food production, automotive, and research applications; and
- Allow continued sale of legitimate multi-ingredient food products that contain nitrous oxide as a component (such as whipped cream canisters used in commercial and household cooking).
The Nitrous Oxide Safety Act is a straightforward approach that reflects growing bipartisan concern over the rapid rise in inhalant misuse, and the need to modernize consumer protections. The bill is cosponsored by Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05).
View the bill text here.