Westminster is one of the latest Orange County cities to ban the recreational sale and distribution of whippets — nitrous oxide — to people looking to get high off the gas. 

The change seeks to offer a clearer definition of where and to whom whippets can be sold in an attempt to limit usage to be in purely professional settings. This may include medical, automotive or commercial food production operations. 

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Orange County is the first county in California to explicitly ban the sale of whippets for recreational use. 

While the state does have a regulation limiting recreational purchase of whippets, there’s loopholes that allow the odorless inhalant to be sold at retail shops, according to local officials. 

Several cities, like Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Stanton and Santa Ana, have already taken steps to crack down on whippet sales in their towns.

Westminster’s ban was first approved in an initial vote on April 22, and a final approval was given  during the council’s meeting on May 13, with the new whippet ban ordinance expected to kick in 30 days after that. 

The proposed ban was first discussed during a meeting on March 11.

“I don’t see a common sense need for a sale of this product, for instance, at a smoke shop,” Councilmember Carlos Manzo said during discussion of the ban in March. “Those types of customers are going to be using it for nefarious reasons.” 

Westminster city leaders said they are seeking to fill in gaps between state regulations. 

Ryan Salz, a city staff member who works within the city manager’s office, said the city is pursuing the ban to promote public safety.

“There’s serious negative health effects that can be caused by the [recreational] use of nitrous oxide, such as blood clots, neurological damage, asphyxiation, paralysis and even death,” Salz said at the council’s March meeting. 

“California state law does regulate the sale and distribution of nitrous oxide, but it doesn’t go far enough in some areas.” 

Recreational nitrous oxide, also referred to as “NOS” or “galaxy gas,” can be inhaled to create a high — which can lead to neurological and psychiatric complications, including nerve damage and psychosis if abused, according to the Yale School of Medicine.

While some people use nitrous oxide to get high, it’s also commonly used in professional settings. 

The gas is used in culinary settings to make whipped cream, and it’s also used as a medical and dental anesthetic and for vehicle performance — all exceptions carved out in Westminster’s whippet ban. 

The city is following a trend set by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, who voted to ban the sale of nitrous oxide in unincorporated areas last year. 

[Read: Orange County Bans Whippets]

Since the board’s action to ban whippets in February 2025, several Orange County cities followed suit in passing ordinances of their own prohibiting the sale of the gas in retail settings. 

Other cities, like Irvine, have only entertained proposals to ban whippets. While an action similar to those of the previously mentioned cities was proposed, the idea was ultimately knocked down in a city council vote. 

Collegiate News Service Editor Angelina Hicks contributed to this report.