San Carlos became the first city in San Mateo County to ban the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational use at its Monday meeting, following the county’s lead who passed a similar ordinance in August.
Nitrous oxide — used medically as a short-acting sedative — can be huffed and used recreationally to get high, which has become increasingly popular due to its sale at smoke shops around the county. Dispensers, or “whip-its,” are often decorated with colorful designs or come in various fruity flavors.
The City Council approved the ban unanimously and members spoke to the urgency of the matter.
“It’s been a topic on my mind for a while since a resident here in San Carlos told me about a very sad case of a friend’s son who had become addicted and passed away,” Mayor Sarah McDowell said.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed its ordinance banning the sale of nitrous oxide in unincorporated areas of the county after the county’s Youth Commission found it has become increasingly popular among minors.
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Marketing of nitrous oxide is made to appeal to young people, offered in a variety of flavors and sold within balloons as a means to inhale the drug.
“It has no place being sold recreationally in our community and certainly should not be sold to our youth,” McDowell said.
Purchasing nitrous oxide with the intent of inhaling it to get high is already considered a misdemeanor in California, but it is permitted for culinary and automotive uses. It is prohibited to be sold to anyone under 18 years of age.
The San Carlos ordinance makes it unlawful for any person to sell, attempt to sell, offer, distribute or otherwise provide any other person nitrous oxide, a device to dispense nitrous oxide, or any item that contains any quantity of nitrous oxide. There are few exceptions for legitimate culinary or automotive reasons.
Violators could be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine or six months jail time.
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