Nitrous: The Gas that Makes You High Legally

Nitrous is nitrous oxide, also known as the laughing gas. It is widely used in dentistry and surgery in the olden times, especially during the period when anesthesia is not yet discovered. This gas has a pleasant odor and smells fairly sweet. It is known to have both analgesic and anesthetic effects, making it perfect for medical applications.

However, many have discovered the euphoric effects of this gas. When inhaled, it can bring its user to total euphoria and provide a perfect legal high. Being so, increased consumption of this gas for recreational use was noted in the next few years.

The purchase and use of this gas is not prohibited by the government. It may or may not be controlled though, given its many uses. Possession of nitrous is not illegal. But in California, possession of this gas with the intent to inhale is punishable by law. A lot of states have followed suit, charging anyone caught using the gas for recreational purposes with misdemeanor.

The physiological effects of this gas may last for only a minute or two but its residual effects are also quite noticeable. It can cause time-based and spatial disorientation, as well as fixated vision. There would be auditory hallucinations as well, which could come in either pulsating or throbbing beats. These are also complimented by visual hallucinations, which users also describe as a pulsating effect. Individuals who have tried the gas also notes increased threshold for pain, deep mental connections, and a much lowered vocal pitch.

There are known side effects from using this gas. Getting disoriented with one’s environment is just one of them, along with the fact that it makes you feel silly. In extreme cases, its overdose could lead to death. This gas is quite cold in nature, making frost bite another concern for people who tend to use it. Some of the distortions and aches suffered by the body due to consumption of this gas may create permanent damages.

In certain states, the sale and use of nitrous is highly regulated, to the extent that the amount and frequency of purchase is noted. In other places, one needs to get a license in order to openly buy these products. In the UK however, this gas is relatively legal. It can be easily bought and obtained, although the government is strictly enforcing laws prohibiting its use on children and minors.