Lachgas ban for young people on the way

The sale of laughing gas as a risky party drug is to be limited nationwide, especially to protect young people. For children and adolescents, acquisition and possession are to be banned, as a draft law of Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken that has now been brought onto the wayCDU) provides. The online trading and the purchase of self-service machines are to be generally prohibited. The availability of KO-drops, some of which are used as a « rape drug », is also to be contained.

« No harmless fun »

Warken had already made it clear that Lachgas was « not a harmless fun », but especially for children and young people with high health risks. « In the event of intensive acute consumption, there is a risk of unconsciousness, » says the draft that is available to the German Press Agency. If there is a direct consumption from a cartridge, due to the cooling down to up to 55 degrees minus frostbite and lung tissue injuries due to the gas pressure.

Lachgas, i.e. stabil monoxide (N2O), has been on the advance as a party drug for several years. Consumers breathe the euphoric substance, which is used in medicine as a light anesthetic for fears and pain, via balloons. Warken’s predecessor Karl Lauterbach (SPD) also presented a draft for sales bans, but it was no longer implemented. Some cities and countries therefore introduced their own regulations.

The chemicals are also in sight of the chemicals gamma butyrolactone and 1.4-bullyiol. They are known as K.-O. drops that can be placed in drinks. After a few minutes sacrifice becomes dizzy, you can lose consciousness. Perpetrators use the time for sexual offenses or to rob victims. According to the draft, the substances based on certain quantities should in future fall under a “handling ban” for new psychoactive substances.

Exceptions for spray cream

Because the chemicals are used for other purposes, exceptions to sales bans are provided. In the case of laughing gas, cartridges with up to eight grams of filling quantities should remain on the market, which serve to foam whipped cream, for example. This also applies to prefabricated corn.

The draft now goes to the further internal coordination and must then be decided to the cabinet and the Bundestag. The new regulations should come into force three months after the announcement – for preparing changes in retail and on machines and for age tests.