Home Office announces nitrous oxide to be illegal from November 2023

Article summary

The Home Office has announced that possession of nitrous oxide will be illegal from 8 November 2023. This ban, which follows government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, will make nitrous oxide, also known as 'laughing gas', a controlled class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, repeat use of which may result in up to two years’ imprisonment. The Home Office has said that dealers may face up to 14 years’ imprisonment. The Home Office has also noted that secondary legislation is due to be on 18 October 2023, which will make possession of nitrous oxide, with intention to wrongfully inhale it, an offence, resulting in an unlimited fine, visible community punishment, caution appearing on criminal records and prison sentences for repeat serious offending.