Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, watches a vote in the Alabama Senate on Feb. 13, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Weaver said the proposed ban on recreational sale and possession of inhalants like laughing gas and poppers is aimed at curbing youth use. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)
An Alabama House committee passed a bill that would outlaw the sale and possession of inhalants for recreational use, such as laughing gas and poppers.
SB 78, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, passed the House Health Committee on a voice vote. The bill would prohibit the sale and possession of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” except under specific circumstances, citing concerns over youth addiction and misuse. It would also ban amyl nitrite, also referred to as “poppers,” and mixtures of butyl nitrate, or “whippets.”
“Right now, your children can buy this with no age restrictions in gas stations in any flavor that they want: mango, blueberry, raspberry, whatever,” Weaver said as she passed canisters of whippets for committee members to see. “This was brought to me from a parent. Her child purchased this online for 70-something dollars, and it was delivered to their house.”
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The measure would impose age restrictions, ban flavored variants, and set penalties for unlawful possession and sale. The bill previously only prohibited the use and possession of these inhalants, but it was amended in committee to ban their sale outright.
Possessing could result in a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $6,000 fine. Selling these inhalants could lead to a Class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $7,500.
Only licensed medical professionals, manufacturers, food service providers and automotive professionals over the age of 21 would be allowed to handle nitrous oxide.
During the committee meeting, Weaver said committee members could type “Galaxy gas,” a common brand of whippets, on Instagram and TikTok and see videos of children inhaling from canisters. The search on Instagram does bring up videos of children using the substance, resulting in slurred speech or loss of balance, but the search is blocked on TikTok.
Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said in the meeting that she was given laughing gas before a dental procedure and that she agreed these inhalants need to be taken off the market and used in professional settings.
“I didn’t really know what it did to me, because whatever it did, I didn’t feel the dental work,” Warren said.
She added that since it didn’t harm her then, as long as it can still be used for medical reasons, she agrees these should not be widely available.
“I can’t believe that they’re being sold in stores,” Warren said.
The bill, which cleared the Senate in early February, now moves to the House floor.
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