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Berlin – Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wants to ban the sale of laughing gas as a party drug for young people by law. The SPD politician has developed a change in the law. A ministry spokesman confirmed the corresponding plans. Rhenish Post reported first.
The amendment therefore also provides for a ban on so-called knockout drops. The document has now been passed to the departmental coordination. Lauterbach has repeatedly spoken out in favor of stricter rules in the past.
Nitrous oxide, i.e. nitrous oxide (NtwoNitrous oxide has been popular as a party drug for several years. Users inhale the euphoric substance through balloons. Nitrous oxide is currently not subject to the narcotics law in Germany and can be purchased in capsules or cream cartridges in supermarkets, tobacconists or on the Internet. Other states have already passed legal regulations against its abuse.
A fundamental prohibition on ownership should therefore apply to children and young people. According to the report, the industrial, commercial or scientific use of laughing gas should continue to be permitted as a “recognized use”, provided that misuse of the substance as an intoxicant can be excluded.
The background is that laughing gas is also used in industry, for example to make cream foam, or in medicine and science.
The Federal Health Minister also wants to ban the chemicals gammabutyrolactone and 1,4-butanediol. They are known as knockout drops. Perpetrators pour the usually tasteless and odorless chemicals into their victims’ drinks. The substances often act like drugs.
After a few minutes, victims become dizzy, unable to think or act clearly, and feel as if they are drunk. Shortly after, they may lose consciousness for minutes or even several hours. Perpetrators use this time to commit sexual crimes or steal.
According to the newspaper, the change in the law will be implemented after the summer holidays and could come into effect this year. © dpa/aerzteblatt.de