.          Nitrous oxide is a drug cheaper than coke and more discreet than marajuana. Despite its side effects being possible permanent brain damage, it’s sold by big retailers like Walmart and Amazon under the brand name of Galaxy Gas.
.          Galaxy Gas, an LLC owned by Khalil Amor, is single handedly responsible for the resurgence of nitrous oxide as a recreational drug. About a decade ago, the amount of nitrous oxide abuse related complications was on the decline— that was until Galaxy Gaz went public in 2021. The sales of the brightly-colored canisters skyrocketed, and an uptick in nitrous oxide related complications did as well.
.          Interestingly enough, the phenomenon was painted as a bunch of inhalant addicts taking advantage of a new culinary brand. No one bothered to look into the brand itself, only the people abusing the product. It wasn’t until an article written by the BBC probed more into the company that people began digging deeper into the figures behind Galaxy Gas. Culinary store fronts never carried Galaxy Gas- but smoke and vape shops always stocked it. If the true intention behind their product was only to infuse certain foods, then it wouldn’t be sold in Khalil Amor’s Cloud 9 Vape shops in Atlanta.
.          It is glaringly obvious that Galaxy Gas was never intended to be an innocent kitchen tool. Before owning Galaxy Gas, Khalil Amor exclusively owned vape shops, a random business venture into whipped-cream-flavoring-technology just doesn’t make sense. The product was made with the patrons of dispensaries and smoke shops in mind. To the executives, nitrous oxide was just a new and fun product to test the market with, not a dangerous chemical with serious repercussions.
.          Nitrous oxide isn’t even something that can be safely commercially available, even small exposures during dental surgeries have been shown to have adverse side effects. Nitrous oxide is so harmful that it’s no longer commonly used for medical purposes. Other anesthetics can work just as efficiently with less complications. complications include smaller things like muscle fatigue and some more horrifying ones like brain necrosis. Necrosis of the brain is when the cells and tissue die and rot while still inside your head. This happens because Nitrous Oxide quickly drains the oxygen from your cerebral cavity, causing rapid oxygen starvation and B12 deficiency. The way it affects brain chemistry is degenerative as well, it increases inhibitory responses and decreases activation signals within brain receptors. In short, it makes it significantly harder for your receptors to perform normal functions and hold normal oxygen levels.
.          Selling such a vicious and damaging chemical in a shady manner isn’t even Khalil Amor’s first offense as a business owner. He has already had a class lawsuit filed against him for illegally selling delta 9 products labeled as delta 8. The difference between the two may seem small, but the potency and effects of the varying categories is very noticeable. The class action lawsuit included other offending brands like STIIZY, a delta 8 vendor.
.          Dishonest products and unsuspecting consumers made the perfect combination for Galaxy Gas to make itself a real problem. Videos of Atlanta residents slumped over in public with Galaxy Gas canisters surfaced, Kanye West’s live streams of him raving about nitrous oxide went viral, more flavors of it came out. No preventative measures were taken until it was too late. By the time Walmart and Amazon pulled it from shelves, inhalants had already made their full resurgence.
.          What consumers need is better and more intensive business policies and inspections. Too many owners are allowed to get away with under the board and shady practices that directly and negatively affect buyers. Due to preventable negligence, addiction to inhalants that was on its way out is on the rise again. Galaxy Gas is an incredibly hazardous chemical that destroys the health of those who abuse it. It’s not worth anyone’s time and money, especially when it only serves unethical business practices.