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Orland Park committee backs ordinance banning retail sale, possession and recreational use of nitrous oxide
Summary
After a pair of residents described a family member’s addiction and severe health effects, the Committee of the Whole voted unanimously July 20 to recommend an ordinance that would bar retail sale, possession and recreational use of nitrous oxide while exempting medical, dental and licensed food‑service uses.
The Orland Park Committee of the Whole voted July 20 to recommend adoption of an ordinance that would prohibit the retail sale, possession and recreational use of nitrous oxide, after residents described addiction and serious health harms linked to the product.
Kelly Concrete, a local resident who spoke during the public‑comment period, said a family member has been addicted to nitrous oxide for the past year and described a recent hospitalization. “One of the biggest challenges is that many people, especially the young people, do not understand the risk,” she said, and told the board the gas can “interfere with the B12” vitamin, causing numbness, weakness, balance problems and other nerve damage that can be permanent.
The Conrads told the board they contacted police after repeated purchases and that an enforcement sting led to a local seller’s 10‑day closure. Trustee Katsenas and other board members thanked the family for bringing the issue forward and said the complaint helped the village target enforcement and ordinance language.
Trustee Lawrence moved the ordinance recommendation; board discussion clarified the measure would include exceptions for medical and dental uses, licensed food‑service operations and commercial, industrial or scientific entities that legitimately use nitrous oxide. The ordinance would specifically prohibit sales by vape shops, tobacco shops, convenience stores, gas stations and similar retailers that are not supplying the product for food preparation.
The board asked staff and police leadership about outreach and enforcement. The village’s deputy police chief said officers will continue underage‑purchase stings and share guidance with schools and parents, and staff said they will refine the ordinance language to avoid hampering legitimate food‑service and medical uses.
The motion passed on a unanimous roll call. The committee directed staff to prepare the ordinance and next steps for formal consideration; no effective date was announced at the meeting.
The committee also encouraged residents to report suspected unlawful sales to code enforcement and police so the village can investigate and, where warranted, pursue enforcement actions.
