Editing Nitrous oxide (section)

== Legality ==
{{main|Recreational use of nitrous oxide#Legal status}}

In [[India]] transfer of nitrous oxide from bulk cylinders to smaller, more transportable E-type, 1,590-litre-capacity tanks<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohiomedical.com/UserFiles/File/Medical+Gas+Cylinder+Data.pdf|title=Ohio Medical|website=www.ohiomedical.com|access-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417223630/http://www.ohiomedical.com/UserFiles/File/Medical%20Gas%20Cylinder%20Data.pdf|archive-date=17 April 2016}}</ref> is legal when intended for medical anaesthesia.

The [[New Zealand Ministry of Health|New Zealand Ministry of Health]] has warned that nitrous oxide is a prescription medicine whose sale or possession without a prescription is an offense under the Medicines Act.<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderton |first=Jim |date=26 June 2005 |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/time039s-sham-sales-laughing-gas |title=Time's up for sham sales of laughing gas |publisher=Beehive.govt.nz  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108015457/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/time039s-sham-sales-laughing-gas |archive-date=8 January 2015 }}</ref> This would seemingly prohibit all non-medicinal uses of nitrous oxide, although it is implied that only recreational use will be targeted.

In August 2015, the [[Lambeth London Borough Council|Council]] of the [[London Borough of Lambeth]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]]) banned the use of the drug for recreational purposes, making offenders liable to an on-the-spot fine of up to £1,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33955823 |title=Lambeth Council bans laughing gas as recreational drug |work=BBC News |date=17 August 2015 |access-date=17 August 2015 }}</ref> In September 2023, the UK Government announced that nitrous oxide would be made illegal by the end of the year, with possession potentially carrying up to a two-year prison sentence or an unlimited fine.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-05 |title=Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas to be illegal by end of year |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66718165 |access-date=2023-09-05}}</ref>

Possession of nitrous oxide is legal under [[United States]] federal law and is not subject to [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] purview.<ref name="ccle">{{cite web |url=http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/dll/N20_state_laws.htm |title=US Nitrous Oxide Laws (alphabetically) Based on a search of online free legal databases. Conducted May 2002 |publisher=Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics |access-date=27 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124114346/http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/dll/N20_state_laws.htm |archive-date=24 January 2008  }}</ref> It is, however, regulated by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] under the Food Drug and Cosmetics Act; prosecution is possible under its "misbranding" clauses, prohibiting the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide for the purpose of [[recreational drug use|human consumption]] without a proper medical license. Many states have laws regulating the possession, sale and distribution of nitrous oxide. Such laws usually ban distribution to minors or limit the amount that may be sold without special license.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} For example, in California, possession for recreational use is prohibited and qualifies as a misdemeanor.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=381b&lawCode=PEN |title=California Penal Code § 381b |publisher=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]|date=1984|access-date=October 27, 2024 }}</ref>