Image via Andrew Lancaster/Unsplash
The world is full of strange oddities and happenings, and among the latest of those strange happenings is a new law in New York that makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase canned whipped cream.
The law was passed with the hopes of preventing teenagers from using cans of whipped cream to inhale nitrous oxide. This is called a “whippet.”
The US Drug Enforcement Administration factsheet states this about inhalants: “Inhalants are invisible, volatile substances found in common household products that produce chemical vapors that are inhaled to induce psychoactive or mind-altering effects.”
The DEA says that about 1 in 5 young people have used inhalants by the time they reach eighth grade. It can cause serious damage to the brain, including the parts that “control thinking, moving, vision, and hearing.”
Maybe you’ve never heard of this happening, but it looks like it was a genuine problem in New York. State Senator Joseph Addabbo of Queens sponsored the law after complaints were raised regarding empty canisters littering the streets.
Nitrous oxide is a legal chemical, but only in professional use like manufacturing. Addabbo said that “sadly, young people buy and inhale this gas to get ‘high’ because they mistakenly believe it is a ‘safe’ substance. This law will eliminate easy access to this dangerous substance for our youth.”
It’s definitely going to be strange to have to get your ID checked while getting your groceries.
