Sale and use of nitrous oxide to get high to be penalised by up to 2 years’ jail or $500,000 fine Health Minister Shane Reti sought urgent options for crackdown following reports of rising use among young people in NZ and overseas Nitrous oxide, aka laughing gas/NOS/nangs, is a colourless gas which has legitimate uses in healthcare and cooking, but can be abused to get high Selling or using nitrous oxide to get high could now lead to a jail sentence or hefty fine under a crackdown by the Government. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti said today he had sought urgent options to address nitrous oxide use following reports of its rising popularity among young people in New Zealand. “Nitrous oxide has several legitimate uses, but we also know it is increasingly being used as a recreational drug,” said Reti in a statement.
“Smokefree enforcement officers have even reported seeing nitrous oxide products - nangs - for sale in vape stores. This is extremely concerning.”.