Stop fooling yourselves, Government tells ‘nos’ vendors

Retailers who sell nitrous oxide for cheap thrills are fooling themselves if they believe they will escape the law, the Government says.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said yesterday that despite an announcement that sellers of "nos" would be given time to adjust to legislation that makes its sale for inhaling an offence, they would eventually fall foul of it.

The announcement was made after health officials and police met last night to discuss the sale of any grade of "nos" for inhaling.

On Tuesday, the minister said that nitrous oxide was a prescription medicine and therefore could not be sold without a prescription.

That made it illegal to sell or buy nitrous oxide to inhale. To do so would be an offence carrying a maximum penalty of six months in prison or a $1000 fine.

But because people had only just been made aware of the new legal opinion, "reasonable time" would be allowed before prosecutions.

Enforcement agencies were working out how enforcement would be handled, educating retailers and how to deal with non-inhalation uses, such as in the catering industry.

Mr Anderton said inhalation could harm the lungs, freeze-burn lips and cause anaesthesia, collapsing and choking on vomit while unconscious.

- NZPA