Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, joined state and local leaders Friday to discuss the dangers of recreational use of nitrous oxide and urged lawmakers to pass her bill limiting the substance’s sale.
Her bill, SB 936, would prohibit the public sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams, with exceptions for legitimate uses in the medical, dental, culinary and automotive industries.
“The abuse of nitrous oxide is a growing problem that is harming and sometimes killing teenagers and young adults, and jeopardizing road safety,” Blakespear said. “Nitrous oxide is addictive, it’s dangerous and it’s readily available. SB 936 puts a stop to its wide distribution for non-legitimate purposes.”
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
“Nitrous oxide abuse has become a significant public safety concern because it is increasingly a factor in deadly and catastrophic crashes on our roads,” she said. “Senator Blakespear authored Senate Bill 936 as a balanced measure to focus on greedy sellers and businesses that are not only making nitrous oxide available like it’s candy but also setting it up for easy use on our roads with inhalation paraphernalia. This bill reflects the urgent need to address this growing threat before more lives are lost.
“We are prosecuting cases in which drivers used nitrous oxide prior to collisions that killed or seriously injured others. No one should mistake these canisters for harmless fun when the consequences can be fatal.”
Similar limitations on nitrous oxide have already passed in the states of Louisiana and Nebraska, and in California’s own Humboldt, Orange, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.
It is often sold in canisters as a food processing propellant for whipped cream or other culinary uses. However, many brands of large canisters “appear to be marketed to teenagers — with colorful labels and kid-friendly flavors, such as bubble gum, vanilla cupcake or tropical punch — who use it to get high,” a statement from Stephan’s office read.
“Misuse of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes has become increasingly prevalent in many of our communities,” said San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez. “While nitrous oxide has legitimate medical and food- service applications, its availability in convenience stores and vape shops makes it easy for anyone — including young people — to obtain, which is both dangerous and concerning.”
The FDA found use of the substance can produce serious health problems, such as asphyxiation, blood clots, frostbite, impaired bowel and bladder function, limb weakness, loss of consciousness, numbness, paralysis, psychiatric disturbances and even death.
Deaths involving the substance — sometimes known as “laughing gas” – – have increased by 500% over the last decade, with emergency room visits doubling since 2018 in California.
The bill, which passed the state Senate in May on a bipartisan 32-0 vote, will be considered on Tuesday by the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
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