As other Chicagoland towns look to ban the sale of nitrous oxide canisters, city of Park Ridge leaders are eyeing a similar halt.
Nitrous oxide — also known as laughing gas — is often used in whipped cream to help create the foam product, and it’s used by dentists as a sedative. But municipal leaders are looking at another use for the nimble colorless, odorless gas: It is also used recreationally to get high.
At present, anyone can buy nitrous oxide, and it is sold online and possibly locally. At least one resident said she believes the gas is being marketed to children. However, it’s not clear if anyone is selling it in Park Ridge or using it as a recreational drug.
“It’s flavored, so obviously they’re targeting kids,” Joan Sandrick said during the public comment portion of the May 19 City Council meeting.
Sandrick said she hasn’t gone to vape shops locally to see if it’s sold in Park Ridge, but based on media coverage of what leaders in south suburban Homer Glen and Manhattan – both located in Will County – she imagines it is.
Manhattan banned nitrous oxide sales in 2024.
The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers in March to avoid inhaling the gas, advising that doing so could be fatal.
“These products are marketed as both unflavored and flavored nitrous oxide canisters and are sold as a food processing propellant for whipped cream and culinary food use,” FDA officials stated in a news release. “Intentional misuse or inhalation of contents can lead to serious adverse health events, including death.”
At the regular City Council and the Committee of the Whole meetings held May 19, leaders spoke about at least outlawing local sale of the gas to anyone under 21 years old. However, there is no clear date on a ban. Sandrick urged city leaders, who have already addressed regulations on the synthetic THC product Delta 8, to restrict nitrous oxide sales as well.
“We need to see whether this is something we should ban,” said Sandrick. “We probably should. I would highly encourage you to ban it. It’s not safe. It’s used in dental practices under strict supervision but it’s not flavored and used as an inhalant to get high.”
Mayor Marty Maloney assured Sandrick the council would address the matter. He agreed the city should at least learn about whether or not nitrous oxide is sold and who is buying it and then what to do about it.
“I think the common theme is [that] none of us are very knowledgeable about these types of things and what’s being sold in the vape shops,” Maloney said.
The mayor asked if city officials could look into it, and city manager Joe Gilmore said he would.
“I think we can take a broader, macro look at it and see what’s available in vape shops,” Gimore told the council. “We can see what other communities are doing, maybe, and see what else is out there. We can make this a broader discussion, I think.”
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.
