The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to prohibit tobacco and cannabis shops from selling nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas or whippits. The ordinance still needs Mayor Karen Bass’s approval.
If approved, the measure would carry penalties of up to a $1,000 fine or six months in county jail. The FDA warns that inhaling or misusing nitrous oxide, which doctors and dentists also use for sedation, can cause serious health problems or death.
Students from Bert Corona High School in Pacoima were among those who urged the council to act. Some community members say recreational use of the gas has become normalized. Other local governments, including Rialto, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana, have also adopted restrictions. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills last month restricting retail sales of nitrous oxide statewide.
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