FARED AGAINST BYU TONIGHT. NEW THIS HOUR, A BILL BANNING RECREATIONAL NITROUS OXIDE CANISTERS ACROSS THE STATE COULD SOON BECOME LAW. THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AT TEN. I鈥橫 SHERI FALK. I鈥橫 GUY RAWLINGS. THESE CANISTERS ALSO MORE WIDELY KNOWN AS WHIPPITS OR GALAXY GAS, HAVE HAD MAJOR CONSEQUENCES IN OUR STATE, WITH SEVERAL DEATHS REPORTED FROM IT JUST LAST YEAR. WHILE NITROUS OXIDE HAS ITS LEGITIMATE USES IN MEDICAL AND CULINARY SETTINGS, MANY ARGUE WHEN THESE ARE SOLD AT GAS STATIONS AND SMOKE SHOPS, ACCESS TO IT CAN BE DEADLY. 米兰体育 13 JARVIS ROBERTSON SPOKE WITH AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PRODUCT CONSIDERED INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. NITROUS OXIDE CAUSES YOU TO GET HIGH BY DEPRIVING THE BRAIN OF OXYGEN. CALERA POLICE CHIEF DAVID HYTOP IS PLEASED TO KNOW THAT STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE PASSED SENATE BILL 78. IT BANS RECREATIONAL USE OF INHALANTS THAT INCLUDE NITROUS OXIDE. IT GIVES YOU A SHORT TERM HIGH, BUT THERE ARE LONG TERM HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. STATE SENATOR APRIL WEAVER SPONSORED THIS BILL. IT PASSED THE SENATE FEBRUARY 6TH, AND THE HOUSE MARCH 19TH. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF ANY PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS NITROUS OXIDE, COMMONLY KNOWN AS LAUGHING GAS POPPERS OR SNAPPERS, WOULD BE A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. AS FOR THE UNLAWFUL SALE OF THE SAME PRODUCTS, IT WILL RESULT IN A CLASS D FELONY. I KNOW THERE WERE FIVE DEATHS IN 2024. IN SHELBY COUNTY RELATED TO THE INHALANTS NITROUS OXIDE SPECIFICALLY. SO THIS IS A BOX OF GALAXY GAS. I STOPPED BY A SMOKE SHOP HERE IN THE BIRMINGHAM METRO. THEY DIDN鈥橳 WANT TO GO ON CAMERA, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOX, ONE SIDE SAYS NITROUS OXIDE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE IT SAYS DO NOT REFILL. DO NOT INHALE. THE SMOKE SHOP DID TELL ME THEY BELIEVE GALAXY GAS IS, QUOTE, INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. THE TWO PEOPLE WORKING BEHIND THE COUNTER SAID PEOPLE BUY IT QUITE OFTEN. THEY BELIEVE IT鈥橲 POPULAR BECAUSE OF TIKTOK. THE MANAGER SAID SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO USE BALLOONS TO INHALE THE CHEMICALS OR WHIPPED CREAM DISPENSERS. I鈥橫 ALSO TOLD KIDS ALSO TRY TO BUY FROM THEM, BUT THEY WON鈥橳 SELL TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21. WE ASKED CHIEF HYTCH IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CALERA. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ABUSED VERY MUCH. WE HAVE SEEN INHALANTS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAD A FATAL CRASH AND AIR DUSTER WAS USED AS AN INHALANT. IF GOVERNOR IVEY SIGNS THE PASSED BILL, THE ACT WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST. JARV
Alabama lawmakers cracking down on nitrous oxide, popular inhalant
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Updated: 11:30 PM CDT Mar 27, 2025
Alabama is one step closer to banning the recreational use of products that contain nitrous oxide. SB 78 was introduced in this legislative session and moved through both chambers pretty fast.The Senate passed the bill in February, the House did the same on March 19."I think it's good," said Calera police chief David Hyche. "I know you can order it from Amazon, and there are different gas stations around Shelby County that were found that were selling the the product. It seems that the smaller containers are the ones that are more often abused."He said five people died in 2024 from inhaling nitrous oxide.The bill states: a person commits the crime of unlawful possession of inhalants if he or she does either of the following:(1) Inhales, ingests, uses, or possesses any compound, liquid, gas, or chemical which contains butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, secondary butyl nitrite, tertiary butyl nitrite, or any mixtures containing butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, secondary butyl nitrite, or tertiary butyl nitrite. (2) Inhales, ingests, uses, or possesses any compound, liquid, gas, or chemical which contains nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas," or any amyl nitrite, commonly known as "poppers" or "snappers."This would result in a Class A misdemeanor.The bill also says it would be a Class D Felony if anyone produces, manufactures, sells, offers for sale, or otherwise transfers a product containing nitrous oxide.This does not apply to licensed medical or dental practitioners, licensed hospitals or other heath care facilities. It's not uncommon for people to use balloons or whipped cream dispensers to inhale the gas."When you're buying something that's designed to propel whipped cream on a device, and you're basically huffing that; you're sniffing that, that's not a controlled environment, and you can't control how much is getting to your brain. Your brain is not getting oxygen. And when that happens, it's my understanding that permanent neurological damage can occur," Hyche said.Although it was passed in the 2025 legislative session, Gov. Kay Ivey's signature is still needed for it to become law. If she signs, the act will become effective Oct. 1.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama is one step closer to banning the recreational use of products that contain nitrous oxide.
in this legislative session and moved through both chambers pretty fast.
The Senate passed the bill in February, the House did the same on March 19.
"I think it's good," said Calera police chief David Hyche. "I know you can order it from Amazon, and there are different gas stations around Shelby County that were found that were selling the the product. It seems that the smaller containers are the ones that are more often abused."
He said five people died in 2024 from inhaling nitrous oxide.
The bill states: a person commits the crime of unlawful possession of inhalants if he or she does either of the following:(1) Inhales, ingests, uses, or possesses any compound, liquid, gas, or chemical which contains butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, secondary butyl nitrite, tertiary butyl nitrite, or any mixtures containing butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, secondary butyl nitrite, or tertiary butyl nitrite. (2) Inhales, ingests, uses, or possesses any compound, liquid, gas, or chemical which contains nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas," or any amyl nitrite, commonly known as "poppers" or "snappers."
This would result in a Class A misdemeanor.
The bill also says it would be a Class D Felony if anyone produces, manufactures, sells, offers for sale, or otherwise transfers a product containing nitrous oxide.
This does not apply to licensed medical or dental practitioners, licensed hospitals or other heath care facilities.
It's not uncommon for people to use balloons or whipped cream dispensers to inhale the gas.
"When you're buying something that's designed to propel whipped cream on a device, and you're basically huffing that; you're sniffing that, that's not a controlled environment, and you can't control how much is getting to your brain. Your brain is not getting oxygen. And when that happens, it's my understanding that permanent neurological damage can occur," Hyche said.
Although it was passed in the 2025 legislative session, Gov. Kay Ivey's signature is still needed for it to become law. If she signs, the act will become effective Oct. 1.
