Drug Test & Laughing Gas: Louisiana Cracks Down on Flavored Nitrous Sales

Who knew a grape-flavored can of laughing gas could spark new drug test laws? That’s exactly what happened in Louisiana this spring, when State Sen. Brach Myers decided to see just how easy it was for a minor to buy nitrous oxide—often used as “laughing gas”—online.

At Myers’ request, his 15-year-old son ordered a grape-flavored nitrous canister from Amazon for just $35, with no age verification or warning labels. It arrived in two days, untouched by any safeguards, Myers told The Advocate.

New Penalties for Flavored Nitrous

In response, Senate Bill 98 sailed through the Legislature and now awaits Gov. John Bel Edwards’ signature. Under the proposed law, online retailers adding flavors to nitrous oxide will face steep penalties: up to a $25,000 fine, one year in prison, and a 30-day suspension of any Alcohol and Tobacco Control license. A second violation could mean full revocation of that license. Exemptions apply for those over 21 working in dental, restaurant, or industrial settings, where nitrous is a legitimate tool.

From Party Trick to Public Health Concern

“While a lot of them are lighthearted, and they’re laughing and everything else, unfortunately, there’s some catastrophic events that are following,” Myers warned during debate, citing social-media clips that glamorize nitrous use among teens. Indeed, Louisiana ranked 5th in overdose death rates in 2022, according to CDC data, and synthetic opioids like nitazenes and xylazine are moving into the illicit market—substances invisible to standard drug test strips.

Legalizing Drug Test Strips

Myers also championed Senate Bill 78, which removes drug test strips (beyond fentanyl tests) from the state’s paraphernalia list. LDH Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan noted that expanding legal test-strip use “gives us the tools to fight whatever comes next,” as overdose deaths involving non-fentanyl substances continue to climb. Harm-reduction advocates applaud the move: easier access to testing can mean faster identification of dangerous adulterants and, ultimately, saved lives.

Balancing Safety & Enforcement

During committee hearings, Sen. Blake Miguez (R-New Iberia) stressed the state’s “anti-drug stance,” while Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter (R-Port Allen) clarified that the test-strip bill is proactive, not reactionary. The unanimous passage of both measures signals bipartisan agreement that public health tools—like drug test strips—should be in the hands of those who need them most.

As Louisiana updates its drug-testing toolkit, the state offers a blueprint: tougher penalties for reckless online sales of intoxicants, paired with broader access to harm-reduction technology. After all, a little curiosity about a grape-flavored can should never end in a tragedy.