Consuming nitrous oxide can have dangerous effects.
Source: dpa
Laughing gas circulating as a party drug will become taboo for children and teenagers in the future. Late in the evening, the Bundestag passed a law prohibiting the acquisition and ownership of minors. Online trading and purchases at self-service machines are even completely prohibited.
CSU lawmaker Hans Theiss warned that laughing gas was “evil” and causing harm to many children and teenagers.
More and more young people are attracted to the short, legal form of laughing gas. However, the health impacts can be very serious.
May 25, 2024 | 4:18 min
Nitrous oxide is widely used as a party drug
Nitrous oxide, or nitrous oxide (N2O), has been a party drug for some time. The euphoric substance used in medicine as a mild anesthetic is inhaled through a balloon.
However, this can cause hallucinations and loss of consciousness, and in the long term risks permanent nerve damage.
Invisible and odorless, knockout drops have been circulating in clubs, bars and homes for decades. Victims can remember almost nothing and often do not report their alleged crimes.
November 5, 2025 | 1:55 min
Knockout drop restrictions
In future, broad restrictions will also be placed on so-called knock-out drops, which are often used as “date rape drugs”. The industrial chemicals gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) put into the drink caused the victim to lose consciousness.
The perpetrator then uses it for sexual crimes or theft. Therefore GBL and BDO in high doses will be banned in the future. However, industrial use is still permitted in lower doses under certain conditions.
There are also exceptions to the ban on laughing gas: For adult buyers, smaller cartridges with a maximum capacity of 8.4 grams are still allowed because, among other things, they are used to foam whipped cream.
Why party drugs have dangerous side effects
November 16, 2023 | 5:44 min
AfD and Left abstained
The law was passed without any dissenting voices. However, the AfD and the left abstained. This law does not do much good for the AfD. He campaigned to limit the age to 21 when purchasing laughing gas.
However, left-wing groups consider these regulations to be ineffective. Rather than using “the logic of yesterday’s bans”, better education is needed.
Source: dpa
