Quick Take
Following recent police seizures and increased abuse among youth, Santa Cruz County supervisors advanced a ban on over-the-counter sales of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or whippets. The ban would go into effect by early November.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed its initial attempt to ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or whippets, within the county.
District 2 Supervisor Kim De Serpa authored the proposal, which received unanimous support. De Serpa, a former social worker, said she was concerned about the increased abuse of nitrous oxide, which can be sold in small canisters and inhaled for a short, dizzying high.
“This ordinance is about protecting our community — especially our young people — from the very real dangers associated with nitrous oxide misuse,” De Serpa said in a statement released by the county. “… The misuse of nitrous leads to long-term health effects and creates risks in our community. We have a responsibility to act.”
The county does not currently regulate the sale of nitrous oxide. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, inhaling the drug can result in “serious health problems” such as imbalanced blood cell counts, suffocation, blood cots, paralysis and death. People who frequently inhale nitrous oxide “can lead to prolonged neurological effects, including spinal cord or brain damage.”
In May, law enforcement at UC Santa Cruz warned of increased use of nitrous oxide after seizing an estimated $40,000 worth of canisters in a forested area on campus.
“There is no doubt that these tanks were brought onto campus with the intent to distribute this substance to individuals who may not fully understand the dangers of nitrous oxide inhalation,” UCSC Police Chief Kevin Domby said at the time.
In August, the sheriff’s office seized “nearly 100 nitrous units” from a Felton store, ranging from small canisters known as whippets to larger, 4.5-liter tanks. According to a county staff report, the store had received more than 900 canisters over a four-month period, and in a “conservative estimate” was on pace to sell more than 706,000 doses over the course of a year.
The ordinance would limit nitrous oxide sales to legitimate medical and industrial purposes, and would ban over-the-counter sales for recreational use. Violations could result in fines and jail time.
The supervisors are scheduled to take a final vote on the ban on Sept. 30. The ban would go into effect by early November.
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