A proposed ordinance for the Anchorage Assembly to consider during its April 8 meeting would make the recreational use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) illegal in the municipality.
- Ordinance No. AO 2025-50 is being introduced by Assemblyman Randy Sulte. It would prohibit the recreational use, possession, sale, and offering to another of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), amyl or butyl nitrite (“poppers”), and Kratom, by amending Anchorage Municipal Code list the new offenses in the misdemeanor table.
Recreational use of nitrous oxide is not explicitly illegal under federal law in the United States, and is not classified as a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, its sale or distribution for human consumption (i.e., recreational inhalation) is regulated by the FDA under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and misuse can lead to federal penalties if prosecuted as “misbranding.”
At the state level, recreational use of laughing gas for the purpose of causing euphoria is illegal in California, New York, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. It is not illegal in Alaska.
Nitrous oxide itself has a functional use in canned whipping cream, where it is used as a propellant to dispense the cream from the canister and aerate the cream. But some people looking for a quick rush use the cans as “whippets,” where they release just enough gas from the canister (usually using a balloon to capture the gas) and inhale it for a buzz that will last up to a couple of minutes. Repeat use of whippets may have adverse health effects. People also sell and buy nitrous oxide canisters for recreational highs.
Butyl nitrite poppers are a type of recreational inhalant drug consisting of a volatile liquid — butyl nitrite — which is inhaled for its psychoactive effects. Poppers are routinely sold under various brand names like “Rush,” and “Bolt,” and they skirt federal regulations by being advertised as “room odorizer,” “video head cleaners,” or “leather cleaners.” Like nitrous oxide, when inhaled, the vapors produce a rapid, short-lived high, lasting 30 seconds to a few minutes, characterized by euphoria, a “head rush,” and muscle relaxation, especially smooth muscles like those in the anus or blood vessels. Misuse can lead to coma or death.
Kratom is a from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Various products containing it are sold in both retail stores and online. Kratom leaves are often used to self-treat conditions such as pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, opioid use disorder, and opioid withdrawal, according to the Food and Drug Administration. An estimated 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. It is not a controlled substance.
- Sulte says the the proposed ordinance fills a gap in criminal law by identifying the chemical compounds in whippets and poppers and prohibiting their use or sale for recreational purposes, as a Class B misdemeanor. Sell or providing them to a minor is classified higher as a Class A misdemeanor.
Is there a carve out for possession of N2O for dentists or recreational fragrance cars?
These folks are so over their heads. Let’s get some multi family homes built. Our jobs are suffering. Our economy is suffering and our kids are taking their degrees and leaving.
Mrs Randy Sulte is a dentist, so….
Maybe they corner the market?
(Just having fun)
Fragrance cars? Drag cars.
Of all the things to focus on with what’s going on in the city.
Is this the most pressing issue of the day?
Is it in the Top 10, Top 50.
No, it’s not.
Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest.
Agree! Good for nothing miscreants Anchorage Assembly. Have you calculated your property taxes for 2025? They are a laughing stock – I ain’t laughing!
Poppers are the drug of choice by homosexuals. No explanation needed here. Expect resistance.
Coming from Duck Fart, the resistance might be low.
Thanks for using the word anus!
For those who don’t know, these three “drugs” are popular with gay men.
Such a brave move by Mr. Sulte to try to associate his name to the effort to criminalizing them. Its hilarious when conservatives attach themselves to banning things. Its always the guys you are least surprised by. I’m looking forward to Randy’s future attempts to ban show tunes and feather boas.
Because this is really important.
We used to install “laughing gas” injection systems in our street rods. That was probably just as deadly and stupid as huffing the stuff, but at least it required a bit of work and financial investment.
Totally pathetic, a clear attempt to destroy anything normal
You want extreme liberalism with the Marxist mindset. Here it is. Guess what your kids are going to be doing. The pursuit of mediocrity is a journey to far, forget excellence. Discipline and family are dirty words. No thanks to our so called patriot compadres who are apparently to busy to vote.
Who gives a damn about Ordinance No. AO 2025-50 when they can buy their way out of it or ignore it altogether especially if it annoys Important People of certain proclivities?
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No, Mr. Sulte should stick to what he knows best… stiff ’em with a tax, nothing’s wrong with society that another tax can’t fix, right, Randy?
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Jump in with your buddy’s headlice inspection proposal… mandatory drug tests for laughing gas, poppers, Kratom… major moneymaker for someone, yes?
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Better yet, Randy, sic the Code Enforcement Goons on ’em, shut ’em down just like your other buddies did to Kriner’s Diner.
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C’mon, man, you gotta do this if you care that much, even if offends Someone Important who might decide you don’t belong in The Club anymore… damn, Randy you could be a legend!
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Randy… hello… you there?
The Anchorage Assembly can’t solve the issues with Anchorage’s economy. The homeless crap on our sidewalks downtown and in effect run this town because the Assembly refuses to do anything about it except pay Meg Zalatel. The Assembly values the homeless more than they pay the Anchorage taxpayer. They shut down discussion at assembly meeting. Locked down our cities and put thousands of businesses our of business. And put tens of thousands out of works. But, hey, at least we can ban plastic shopping bags and nitrous. Great job.
Paper or plastic, I don’t care. Burn one and carry my toiletries in the other. Meg and her “you can’t Airbnb in a shed” over-regulation-hand-in-my-wallet attitude can go to hell (but I don’t live in Anchorage, thank goodness- they need more high-rise condos with doormen, until then…)
That may cut into Spicy Gato’s private life.
Interesting that this Assembly has no concern at all about the non-stop bond proposals each year that somehow keep passing and causing homeowners to get ESCROW SHORTAGE notices. Who the hell wants to keep pay $100+ per month more EVERY YEAR! These bonds that keep passing due to ” Low voter turn-out” and increasing our mortgages every year has to end soon, otherwise no one will be able to keep a home that is affordable. I sent an email to ALL assembly members about this 3 days ago and received NO reply from any of them. Not even Randy Sulte who I voted for and had his sign in my yard. His sign wont ever be in my yard again. This whole bunch in the assembly clearly have no decency, professionalism or consideration to atleast acknowledge a very serious concern. Disgusting & despicable !
People are shooting up & snorting from tin foil all over ANC Randy!
How about the assembly enforcing our current laws
Bunch of losers ….. imo.
Also: the gay guys on the assembly won’t let this pass
In 2000, an FDA-approved medication caused me years of pain, surgeries, and misdiagnoses. I was even put in rehab because no one believed me. Then, 8 years ago, I found kratom—a natural tea that changed everything. It gave me the relief I’d been searching for and helped me heal after a major surgery that finally proved my pain was real.
Kratom has been my only source of pain relief since. It’s helped so many others too—in chronic pain, in recovery, and just trying to live better lives.
But now, people are being criminalized for it. We can’t let more lives be ruined—like Shaina Brown and Marshall Price. We need to protect access to safe, natural alternatives.
Please share my story and help us keep kratom legal. Thank you.
#KeepKratomLegal #KratomSavesLives
#plantbasedrecovery #plantbasedmedicine