I am writing this petition stemming from a personal tragedy, after seeing the destructive impact of nitrous oxide misuse on one of my dear friends from UCSB. Despite being unlawful to purchase for the intent of inhalation in California, culinary nitrous oxide products are widely available across smoke/vape shops with no clear regulation. Disturbingly, it seems there is little attempt to hide the sale of flavored nitrous oxide products, pushing more young adults towards potential abuse.

Across the United States, misuse of nitrous oxide, often referred to as "whippets", "NOS" or "hippy crack", is on the rise. In the UK, in 2016 alone, it was estimated that 7.6% of people aged 16-24 used the drug (source: Crime Survey for England and Wales), an alarming statistic that could potentially mirror the situation in the United States due to similar regulatory gaps.

Nitrous oxide misuse has a broad range of physical effects, including heart failure, brain damage, and in some cases, can lead to a vegetative state. The availability of nitrous oxide in everyday businesses provides an easy gateway for teenagers and young adults to fall into misuse and potential harm.

This petition is about preventing further tragedies by requesting action from our local and national authorities. We need tighter regulations on the sale of nitrous oxide for culinary use to protect our families, friends, and neighbors from falling victims to this dangerous substance. We can no longer afford to ignore the growing misuse of nitrous oxide nationwide. Please, support this cause; sign this petition to ban the commercial sales of culinary nitrous oxide products. Together we can make a difference.