The UK Government has announced a ban on nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas", for recreational use due to its potential health risks.
Now classified as a Class C drug alongside anabolic steroids and khat, possession with intent to inhale it unlawfully for a psychoactive effect constitutes an offence, according to the Home Office.
“We’re sending a clear message to the public, particularly the youth,” said Interior Minister Chris Philp. The gas is popular among young people due to its wide availability and low cost.
“For too long, the public use of this drug has contributed to anti-social behaviours that plague our communities,” Philp added.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction expressed concern last year over the “alarming” increase in recreational use of nitrous oxide in some parts of Europe. The appeal lies in the gas’s brief psychoactive effects, which last three to four minutes when inhaled.
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In the UK, images of dozens of canisters littering the streets during the Notting Hill Carnival in London were particularly striking. 13 tonnes were collected following the event.
Users now risk a fine and a two-year prison sentence if reoffending. The production and sale of nitrous oxide for “illegal” purposes face a 14-year prison sentence, up from seven previously.
The ban does not affect the “legitimate” use of this substance, such as a medical anaesthetic, in cream whippers, or in industry. The Netherlands also outlawed the recreational use of nitrous oxide last year.
