The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to prohibit smoke shops and other tobacco retailers from selling or distributing nitrous oxide for recreational use.
The 14-0 vote, led by Councilmember Imelda Padilla, targets the so-called “laughing gas” that has fueled a growing street scene across the city. Padilla, who spent two years pushing the measure, celebrated the outcome in a statement after the vote.
“For two years now I’ve worked closely with community partners… and the city attorney to usher this policy through the council process,” Padilla said. “Along the way we have seen support from our community, we’ve seen other cities and counties join and it’s even gone all the way to the state level.”
The ordinance makes an exception for pre-packaged food products that use nitrous oxide, or NAWS, as a propellant. It now heads to Mayor Karen Bass for final approval.
Padilla pointed to companion state legislation that adds further restrictions. “Our fight against the recreational sale of nitrous oxide, often called NAWS, now has new tools at the state level,” she continued. “SB 758 prohibits smoke shops, tobacco retailers and convenience stores from selling nitrous oxide altogether. SB 936 bans flavored nitrous oxide and restricts the sale of large unflavored tanks, commonly used, recreationally.”
Albert Melena, a representative of the San Fernando Valley Partnership, a nonprofit focused on healthy communities, backed the local crackdown with striking statistics about access. “73% of the schools in the city of Los Angeles are within 1,000 feet of a smoke shop,” Melena said. “This is literally a public health issue.”
The timing follows a highly visible incident in late July, when a large crowd gathered near the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles clutching nitrous oxide tanks and inhaling gas from balloons. The group appeared rowdy, and a makeshift sidewalk bar was also seen serving alcohol nearby.
Nitrous oxide is a colorless, nonflammable gas commonly used by dentists for pain relief. Recreational use can produce feelings of euphoria and hallucinations, while heavy or improper use can cause serious injury or death.
The July scene was not an isolated case. In June, a driver in Rancho Palos Verdes was caught allegedly driving while impaired after inhaling NAWS. He was seen blowing through stop signs and nearly hitting parked vehicles, while police found ice-cold nitrous tanks and balloons in his vehicle.
Padilla noted that cities and counties across California have already moved to restrict recreational nitrous sales, and the new state laws give local governments additional tools to impose further restrictions.
The ordinance will head to Mayor Karen Bass for final approval following Wednesday’s vote.