The Berlin CDU faction is proposing restrictions on the sale and use of laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide. They plan to call on the Senate to launch a corresponding Federal Council initiative to regulate the sale of this substance, with the goal of protecting children and young people from its health-endangering abuse. The faction will discuss and decide on this motion at their closed meeting scheduled for the weekend.
The easy availability and low cost of laughing gas are contributing factors to its rise in popularity among children and young people. According to CDU MPs, it has become one of the most commonly used substances among schoolchildren in Europe and Germany. The overall number of people with problematic substance use is increasing across Europe, posing a significant risk to public health. The potential consequences of laughing gas abuse can be severe, with dozens of deaths reported annually across Europe.
The faction is considering whether regulations should be enacted through the Youth Protection Act or the New Psychoactive Substances Act. They are also looking into alternatives based on sales and possession bans in other European countries. The Bundestag’s Petitions Committee has recommended implementing a sales ban for people under 18, which could serve as a model for future regulations in Berlin.
