Officials in Costa Mesa are joining a growing list of cities to ban the sale of whippets – nitrous oxide or NOS – for recreational drug use.

So far, Orange County’s Board of Supervisors and officials in Stanton and Santa Ana, have banned selling what is also known as galaxy gas to people who intend to use the gas to get high.

Last week, Costa Mesa City Council members voted unanimously to approve the first reading of their own ordinance banning the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational use.

Mayor John Stephens said he hopes other cities will follow their lead. “This is a very dangerous situation, and it’s completely unregulated – the sales,” he said at the Sept. 2 meeting.

The regional crackdown comes as other cities like Anaheim,Orange and La Habra are looking to tighten regulations

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