The President of Russia Vladimir Putin has banned advertising, production and sale of non-combustible N2O gas or nitrous oxide, which is generally used for recreational purposes and is called “laughing gas”. He signed the corresponding law on Tuesday, December 29. This is reported on the official portal legal information.
According to the document, from January 1, 2021, the production, manufacture, supply, storage, transportation and shipment of nitrous oxide not for medical, industrial or technical use is limited.
In addition, propaganda, including on the Internet, of the consumption of “laughing gas” and the dissemination of information about its sale for personal purposes is prohibited.
The law specifies that nitrous oxide is an intoxicating substance, and therefore its misuse in order to “change the state of the human body, not related to medical intervention and medical care” is not allowed.
Initiative contributed to State Duma a group of deputies led by a member of the committee of the lower house of parliament on control and regulation Natalya Kostenko in 2018, however, in November the authors prepared a new edition. It was assumed that violation of the relevant regulation would be criminalized.