Posted on 03/22/2013 5:42:32 PM PDT by markomalley
Hundreds of law enforcement officers on Friday raided Southern California auto parts shops and other businesses suspected of illegally selling nitrous oxide for use as a recreational drug, in one of the nation's largest such raids to date.
Four federal arrest warrants were also served during the 17 simultaneous raids in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, and at least two people were arrested on misdemeanor charges of misbranding a drug in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Authorities said they expected more arrests to come.
The operation was the result of a year-and-a-half-long joint investigation dubbed “No Laughing Matter” by the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The FDA has recently focused on the illegal use of nitrous oxide, and this was its largest case to date, said special agent Lisa Hartsell. Though nitrous oxide has long been a rave phenomenon, it has recently grown into more mainstream use, propelled by the ease of social media to reach young people and spread the word.
“This is a very cheap drug, can be had very easily, it is not a controlled substance, so your big members of the law enforcement community don't have the ability to control it,” Hartsell said.
The gas is legally used by dentists for anesthesia, to pressurize whipped cream canisters and to speed up race cars. But authorities say its illegal use has spurred fatal car accidents, rapes and teen deaths - all in the name of a temporary high.
(Excerpt) Read more at kfiam640.com ...
In related news, Cans of Redi-Whip have been flying off the shelves in Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange counties.
So why exactly the raids then?
This is not a laughing matter.
Um....it’s for the chilren?
“we don’t have the ability to control it.”
That’s the mot instructive line in the entire article. They’re not pissed that people inhale nitrous oxide. They’re pissed because they can’t control people doing so.
Tuners all over California are starting to stockpile NOS like us Texans are stockpiling ammo.
Since nitrous-oxide (NO) is composed of the two most common components of air nitrogen and oxygen, it would be a tad tricky for the idiot Feds to try and regulate it, but I wouldn't doubt they'll try. I'll bet they'll soon classify oxygen (O2) a gateway drug.
Cans of Redi-Whip have been flying off the shelves...”
Cleaning ladies used to tell wild stories about a couple of attorneys (one male, one female) in a building where we used to have offices a lot of years ago - at least once a week they would find an empty can of whipped cream in the trash. Pretty funny and became quite the talk of the building.
Also, back in the 1960’s, our local bank kept balloons and would blow one up for any kiddo that came in banking hours. If they were closed, they would always leave a nitrous oxide tank in the outer lobby area so people could inflate balloons for their kid’s birthday parties. My how times have changed.
>they would always leave a nitrous oxide tank in the outer lobby area so people could inflate balloons for their kid’s birthday parties
I suspect it went over like a lead balloon considering that NO2 is heavier than air.
“Nitrous Dealers” aren’t packin heat.
Sounds successful.
LOL! I remember guys selling balloons of the stuff at $5 each at the shows in Rosemont IL! ‘88 or ‘89 if I remember correctly.
Oh, that’s exactly what was happening...
But, Hey! Weed is OK.
Years ago a kid broke in to the office of a dentist friend of mine and stole a nitrous bottle. Kid was eventually found dead leaning against a tree with nitrous mask on his face.
Here’s my understanding:
Nitrous oxide “nitrous” sold for automotive use has a tiny bit of ‘teargas’ or similar irritant in it. The idea is to keep people from getting high from inhaling it.
The food-grade stuff, and the medical stuff that the dentist administers, does not have the noxious additive.
I’d guess that the car guys have figured out how to remove the irritant. I would bet that a charcoal filter would do that.
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