UK Gov to Ban Laughing Gas

After cannabis, laughing gas is currently deemed the most commonly used drug amongst the 16 to 24-year-old age group in England.

"Levelling up" secretary Michael Gove stated that the recommendations would stop parks from turning into drug-taking arenas and help ministers curb antisocial behaviour.

The ban will arrive arrived a month after a report by the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) cautioned against one and said it would be excessive concerning the harm associated with nitrous oxide. Additionally, it said that such authority could form "significant burdens" for any fair use of the substance. Advocates have criticised the "same old tired drug policy" from the Conservatives, urging that the ban will not prevent young people from experimenting with it.

"No single suggestion on its own is likely to be enough to reduce the harms associated with nitrous oxide use successfully", concluded the ACMD Report.

Existing legislation outlaws the knowing or irresponsible supply of nitrous oxide for inhalation, with dealers currently facing a penalty of up to seven years of jail time. Nitrous Oxide is usually discharged into balloons from small silver canisters before being inhaled.

Disregarding the commission's advice, the prime minister has disclosed plans to ban laughing gas in an "antisocial behaviour action plan" that will establish new "hotspot police" to protect 16 areas across England and Wales that show the most elevated disorder rates.

"The government appears determined to double down on the political theatre of 'get tough' drug policing as part of its antisocial behaviour crackdown. However, criminalising the possession of nitrous oxide will simply increase health and social harms associated with it, creating new costs across the criminal justice system. To reduce risks, this government should sensibly direct resources towards risk education for vulnerable groups and restrict sales of the bigger nitrous canisters with no legitimate use. In addition, it could adopt a recycling deposit scheme for nitrous canisters to reduce litter." -Steve Rolles, Transform Drug Policy Foundation.