City Council

12B. ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STANTON, CALIFORNIA,\nADDING CHAPTER 9.50 (NITROUS OXIDE AND INHALANTS) TO TITLE 9 (PEACE,\nSAFETY, AND MORALS) OF THE STANTON MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATED TO THE\nSALE OF NITROUS OXIDE WITHIN THE CITY\nOrange County has seen an increase in the recreational use and abuse of nitrous oxide,\nan odorless, colorless chemical that can be inhaled and is often colloquially known as\n“laughing gas,” “NOX,” or “whippits.” Nitrous oxide is legitimately used as a pain reliever\nand sedative for dental and medical procedures, as a performance enhancer for cars,\nand as a culinary ingredient. While it is unlawful to inhale nitrous oxide recreationally or\nprovide nitrous oxide to another when a seller knows, or should know, that the buyer\nintends to inhale or ingest the substance recreationally, it is prevalent in smoke shops\naround Orange County as sellers use a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach. To empower local\nlaw enforcement to take additional action against irresponsible nitrous oxide sellers, the\nCity Council will consider adopting regulations prohibiting the sale of nitrous oxide, except\nwhen sold for legitimate uses permitted under State law.\nRECOMMENDED ACTION:\n1. City Council find that the Ordinance is not subject to CEQA pursuant to State CEQA\nGuidelines section 15061(b)(3) and section 15378(b)(5); and\n2. Introduce, by title only, and waive further reading of proposed Ordinance No. 1162,\nadding Chapter 9.50, “Nitrous Oxide and Inhalants” to Title 9 of the Stanton Municipal\nCode, entitled:\n“AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STANTON,\nCALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 9.50 (NITROUS OXIDE AND\nINHALANTS) TO TITLE 9 (PEACE, SAFETY, AND MORALS) OF THE\nSTANTON MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATED TO THE SALE OF NITROUS\nOXIDE WITHIN THE CITY”; and\n3. Set second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 1162 at the April 22, 2025, regular\nCity Council meeting.\nApril 8, 2025