After a family members devastating abuse of inhalants, and it’s impact to our family dealing with the care of someone struggling with addiction, it has come to my attention that many stores can legally sell canisters of nitrous oxide. Just as the responsibility lies with the consumer as to proper use (just as alcohol or cold medicine is sold for example) and we cannot presume that a business owner is knowingly selling these for an illegal use or with malintent we feel strongly that limits would prevent the amount of abuse that is increasing in our communities.  These are solely meant to be used in specific lines of work such as for cooking, automotive and medical fields however they are not being used for the purpose intended and considered illegal for human consumption. Sales of these nitrous oxide canisters support addiction and serious health hazards.  I believe many stores that sell them in the quantities that are sold are likely not being used by the consumers for its intended purposes. As a mother who has personal emotions and objective knowledge dealing with an addict, personally feel that many stores are selling them to people who will likely consume them vs use them as intended. While I cannot necessarily say this is true for all, enacting these guidelines would prohibit folks who could potentially prey on vulnerable people for money without care for the consequences. The rules governing the sale of the canisters in California are currently supervised by the FDA. I am wanting to raise awareness and petition for it to be illegal to sell them without a consumer presenting a permit or identification or license to purchase for the specific intended uses. (food service, medical, or automotive use) I want purchasing of said items to require the license in the hopes it prevents abuse and harm to humans via inhaling the gas. I want sales to be criminalised for supplying it for recreational purposes.

It is my personal goal to raise awareness and media attention with the goal of seeing it on the California ballet in 2023! 

Nitrous oxide is a very dangerous gas when not used properly and can cause brain damage, breakdown of organs and many other bodily functions, psychosis, and death! Research and see how this is destroying lives! 

Quoted from Wikipedia 

Under United States federal law, possession of nitrous oxide is legal and is not subject to DEApurview. It is, however, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration under the Food Drug and Cosmetics Act. Prosecution is possible under its "misbranding" clauses, prohibiting the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide for the purpose of human consumption (the recreational drug usemarket). Given the necessity of proving the intent of either buyer or seller in this case, though, such prosecutions are rare. 

Many states have laws regulating the possession, sale, and distribution of nitrous oxide; but these are normally limited to either banning distribution to minors, or to setting an upper limit for the amount of nitrous oxide that may be sold without a special license, rather than banning possession or distribution completely. In most jurisdictions, like at the federal level, sale or distribution for the purpose of human consumption is illegal. In California, for instance, inhalation of nitrous oxide "for the purpose of causing euphoria, or for the purpose of changing in any manner one’s mental processes," is a criminal offense under its criminal code (Cal. Pen. Code, Sec. 381b). In many other countries, this substance is legal. Small N2O cartridges, used to make whipped cream, can be legally purchased by anyone. 

In all US jurisdictions, however, distribution, possession, and inhalation are legal when done under the supervision and direction of licensed medical professional such as a physician or dentist.