LA targets smoke shops to crack down on drug-huffing partygoers

Los Angeles is cracking down on the city’s smoke shops after a growing street scene involving nitrous oxide tanks, balloons and people getting high on the so-called “laughing gas.”

The City Council voted 14-0 Wednesday to ban smoke shops and other tobacco retailers from selling or distributing nitrous oxide for recreational use.

The ordinance makes an exception for pre-packaged food products that use nitrous oxide, or NAWS, as a propellant.

Councilmember Imelda Padilla, who has pushed the measure for two years, said the crackdown comes as cities across California have moved to restrict recreational nitrous sales.

“For two years now I’ve worked closely with community partners… and the city attorney to usher this policy through the council process. 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,” Padilla said.

“Our fight against the recreational sale of nitrous oxide, often called NAWS, now has new tools at the state level. 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,” she further said.

Padilla said the new state laws also give local governments more tools to impose additional restrictions.

Albert Melena, a representative of the San Fernando Valley Partnership, a nonprofit focused on healthy communities, pointed to the proximity of smoke shops to schools.

“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 crackdown comes after a striking scene unfolded in downtown LA in late July, when a large crowd gathered near the Orpheum Theatre clutching nitrous oxide tanks and inhaling gas from balloons.

The group appeared rowdy, while a makeshift sidewalk bar was also seen serving alcohol.

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.

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.

Now LA is moving to cut off one source of the recreational gas.

The ordinance will head to Mayor Karen Bass for final approval following Wednesday’s vote.

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