Home Secretary Pushes Ahead With Criminalisation of Nitrous Oxide

It will become a Class C drug and possession could lead to a two-year jail sentence

NORTHWICH, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 27: Empty nitrous oxide catering canisters, commonly known as laughing gas and balloons, used to inhale the gas, is discarded in a car park on June 27, 2023 in Northwich, United Kingdom. The UK govenrnment is considering banning nitrous oxide in the future as part of a government crackdown on anti-social behaviour Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Nitrous oxide, often known as laughing gas, is to be banned before the end of the year and will be considered a Class C drug, the government has announced.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “The British people are fed up with yobs abusing drugs in public spaces and leaving behind a disgraceful mess for others to clean up.