OLYMPIA – Sen. Drew Hansen and Rep. Joe Timmons filed legislation Wednesday to ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide, a potentially dangerous inhalant.
The substance, often used in controlled medical, dental or food service settings, is widely available in convenience stores, smoke shops or from online retailers. Similar to tactics seen in the tobacco industry, colorful and flashy marketing and packaging of the product have likely resulted in a surge of popularity among younger users.
“We are seeing real problems with people getting hurt trying to get high on Galaxy Gas and other nitrous oxide products,” said Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island), prime sponsor of SB 6169. “These aren’t safe, and we’re going to ban their sale in Washington state.”
The number of annual deaths associated with nitrous oxide misuse has skyrocketed in the U.S. nearly 600% from 2010 to 2023, according to a 2025 study. Another analysis found emergency medical visits for nitrous oxide misuse in Michigan jumped four to five times from 2019 to 2023.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that intentional misuse of nitrous oxide can lead to serious adverse health events, including blood clots, trouble walking, vitamin B12 deficiency, and in some cases, death. The FDA advises consumers to avoid inhaling nitrous oxide “from any size canisters, tanks, or chargers.”
“Communities are sounding the alarm about the impacts that nitrous oxide products like Galaxy Gas have on children and adults throughout Washington, and we need to listen,” said Timmons (D-Bellingham), prime sponsor of the House bill. “This legislation is a commonsense step to protect people from serious injury and irreversible harm by stopping the sale of products that are being used to get high.”
Many states have passed laws to protect consumers by regulating the sale or possession of nitrous oxide for recreational use. The Suquamish Tribe has also updated Tribal law to explicitly prohibit nitrous oxide misuse, including flavored products marketed toward youth.
“Our Tribal community has seen firsthand the harm caused by the unchecked availability of nitrous oxide products marketed for misuse. Protecting the health and safety of our people, particularly our youth, is a responsibility we take seriously, and we support legislation that removes these dangerous products from our communities,” said Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe.
The bill includes exemptions for medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses.
The bill is expected to get a hearing in the Senate Law & Justice Committee.
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