Families and survivors urge ban on retail sales of nitrous oxide as committee considers HB 16‑30
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Summary
Supporters, including the bill sponsor, law enforcement and people with lived experience, urged senators to criminalize retail sales of nitrous oxide for recreational use, describing easy availability at smoke shops and severe neurological and psychiatric harms; advocates urged liquor‑license enforcement and cited multistate activity on similar bills.
The Commerce Committee heard emotional and detailed testimony in support of House Bill 16‑30, which would prohibit retail sales of nitrous oxide for recreational inhalation while permitting legitimate industrial or medical uses.
"This bill would make the toxic inhalants addressed in this bill less accessible to those who would seek to misuse them," Representative Nancy Murphy told the committee, adding that the proposal was drafted after concerned parents requested action. The sponsor said the bill focuses on sales — not possession or use — and uses liquor‑licensing enforcement to impose sales restrictions.
Law enforcement and public‑safety witnesses described widespread retail availability and rising harms. Brian LeVaca, service chief of police with the Merrimack Police Department, said vape and smoke shops and some gas stations sell a range of nitrous oxide canisters and flavored additives "designed to change the scent" and argued the products are being marketed for inhalation rather than legitimate food or dental uses. LeVaca cited health risks associated with repeated use and said the product is especially attractive to teenagers and young adults.
Several family members and survivors delivered extended, personal testimony. Kathy and Peter Albert described a son whose life and savings were devastated by nitrous oxide addiction; Kathy said their son spent more than $25,000 on canisters and required multiple residential treatments. "It is so easy to purchase nitrous oxide without any regard to life or health," Kathy Albert told the committee.
Holly Hill gave emotional first‑person testimony about psychosis, repeated hospitalizations and lasting neurological damage she attributes to nitrous oxide use: "Today, four years later, I can't help but look back at that time and wonder who that person was," she said, and described buying thousands of cartridges from local smoke shops. Advocates including New Futures described a national trend of industry workarounds and urged New Hampshire to act.
Supporters asked the committee to pass the bill to limit youth access and reduce risk of severe neurological injury and drug‑linked psychosis. No vote was taken and the committee closed the hearing.
