A Texas woman has brought a lawsuit against several whippet smoke shops, alleging they distributed nitrous oxide canisters for illegal recreational use and contributed to her addiction and injuries.
Nitrous oxide has long been used as a dental anesthetic and in culinary uses, such as a propellant in whipped cream dispensers. However, in recent years the gas has been increasingly sold in large, flavored canisters marketed under brand names such as Galaxy Gas and sold through vape shops, smoke shops and gas stations for recreational nitrous oxide inhalation, known as doing “whippets.”
The canisters are often sold openly in bright, candy-colored designs and fruity flavors that hide the risks and appeal to teenagers and young adults, who inhale it to get a brief sense of euphoria. Many of the same whippet smoke shops also sell paraphernalia that is clearly and expressly designed to assist in nitrous oxide inhalation…