Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Vaping topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges council to address nitrous oxide sales at local vape shops
Summary
Linda Booth told the Amherst City Council she believes some local vape shops sell nitrous oxide (N2O) to teenagers and detailed health concerns stemming from her son's addiction; councilors and law staff said enforcement and regulation may be limited by state law, but police will investigate.
During public comment on April 27, Linda Booth of 4640 Oak Point Road told the Amherst City Council she is concerned that local vape shops are selling nitrous oxide (N2O) products to teenagers and described serious health effects observed in her son.
Booth said: "There's a serious problem with the vape shops that are located here in the city of Amherst... They do sell nitrous oxide." She described N2O as a nonflammable gas used in dental and food applications and said that "inhaling enough of it can cause unconsciousness and death," and that her son suffered nerve damage and was unable to work for months after use. Booth provided printed materials and referenced an NPR interview with her son for council review.
Council members asked whether the product can be bought online and whether the city has authority to regulate sales. A councilor and the law director noted that the product is legal and suggested state-level legislation and preemption may limit the city's regulatory options; the mayor and police said the police department is "looking into these things" and enforcement would be pursued in ways similar to underage tobacco or alcohol sales. No formal ordinance or enforcement action was taken during the meeting; Booth left contact information and informational materials with the clerk.
