Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Prevention Act

Key Points

• This bill aims to stop people from inhaling nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, to get high. It gives the Food and Drug Administration the power to set strict rules on how these products are sold and labeled to prevent brain damage or death.
• Stores would be banned from selling nitrous oxide to anyone under 21. Retailers would have to check IDs and keep the products in locked areas where customers cannot see them. They also could not sell these items late at night between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
• The policy would ban flavored nitrous oxide and limit the size of small gas cartridges to 8 grams. It also requires large warning labels on every small cartridge. These labels must explain that inhaling the gas can cause suffocation and provide the number for Poison Control.
• Whipped cream cans and gas used by dentists are mostly not included in these new rules. However, if a company sells whipped cream specifically to help people get high, they could still face penalties.
• The government would provide money to schools, health departments, and police to teach people about the dangers of inhaling gas. Companies that break the rules could face fines ranging from a few hundred dollars to over $21,000 for each violation.

Impact Analysis

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