Under the law of drugs has passed the issue of possession and supply of laughter gas, the well-known laughing gas, which is widely used in coastal areas, especially in the summer.
With a law passed by Parliament last March, the issue of the possession of laughter gas has been included in the law on drugs, as it contains substances that fall into this category. Now the Anti-Drug Service (YKAN) is preparing a circular in which the police will be informed and the service that will investigate such cases will be determined. Until today, the issue of possession and supply of laughter gas has been degraded and violators have been prosecuted under Article 236 of the Penal Code, which concerns negligent and reckless acts. That is why the cases were investigated by the local stations.
Due to this degradation, those brought before the Courts were punished with fines and only in a few cases were prison sentences imposed and these were reduced. Now the cases of locating laughing gas cylinders will be examined by the local TAE and where it is judged that serious issues arise, such as possession of a large quantity or side effects on citizens who used such gas, YKAN will also intervene. It should be noted that a huge amount of laughter gas was recently detected in Limassol with YKAN seizing 330.000 vials. Laughing gas is widely used in tourist areas but also more widely by young people and experts sell it up to five euros per balloon to young people who have fun in nightclubs. In fact, at some point such material was sold outside pubs and clubs, with officials using tourists as barks.
Also, many young people ended up in the First Aid of the Hospital from the use of laughter gas, after fainting and episodes of illness. The material in the laughter gas is widely used in confectionery and is legally imported, but some people take advantage of it by filling it with balloons which they sell to nightclub patrons who inhale them. It is noted that because the substance contained in laughing gas passed into the law on drugs, the penalties for those who possess or supply such material are increased.
Source: Liberal