Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assembly committee advances statewide restrictions on large nitrous oxide canisters
Summary
SB 936 would prohibit retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving medical and culinary uses; local officials and health groups backed the measure and the committee sent it to public safety.
Senator Blake Spear told the committee SB 936 targets oversized nitrous oxide products that are being marketed to young consumers and used recreationally. He said the bill would prohibit retail sale of canisters larger than 8 grams, preserve legitimate medical, dental, culinary and automotive uses, and rely on civil penalties rather than criminalization.
Katrina Fleming, vice chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and a sponsor, said she has seen local shops selling oversized canisters, flavorings, and balloon attachments and argued: "There is no safe recreational use of nitrous oxide." Fleming told the committee she has seen neurological damage, school disruptions and recycling hazards from discarded canisters.
A broad coalition of county governments, public-health organizations, sanitation and waste groups, law-enforcement associations and medical groups registered support during the hearing. No primary witnesses in opposition appeared. Committee members praised the bill's focus on online sales and local pilot restrictions. The committee passed SB 936 to the committee on public safety for further consideration.
