Long Beach moves on nitrous oxide "whippets," with trailers and smoking lounges also on the council's list

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Long Beach skyline at night along the waterfront

The first phase would bring two new state laws into the city code; a second phase within 120 days could add purchase limits and rules near schools, parks and libraries.

By Alberto Zamudio | The Southbound 105 | Oct. 15, 2026

Long Beach is preparing to crack down on the sale of nitrous oxide, the gas sold as "whippets" and under brands such as Galaxy Gas, after the City Council approved a proposal Tuesday night to start drafting a local ordinance.

The council approved the recommendation at its Oct. 13 meeting, Patch reported. The action does not itself create new restrictions. It directs city staff to bring back an ordinance for a later vote.

What the council approved

The item (file 26-56391) was introduced by Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk and co-sponsored by Councilwoman Mary Zendejas and Councilmember Kristina Duggan. According to the agenda, it directs the city manager, working with the city attorney and relevant departments, to:

  1. Within 60 days, bring forward an ordinance that codifies the retail nitrous oxide prohibition established by Senate Bill 758, conforms to the product and device prohibitions in Senate Bill 936, and provides local enforcement through the city's existing permit suspension and revocation, administrative citation and business license remedies.
  2. Within 120 days, return with proposed amendments to strengthen the ordinance through greater local restrictions, to the extent state law allows, without restricting legitimate uses including medical, dental, food preparation, industrial, manufacturing and automotive services.

Patch reported that the second phase could examine limits on the amount sold in a single transaction, stricter product display requirements and possible restrictions around schools, parks and libraries. Those measures would face legal review before returning to the council.

What the state laws do

Per Patch's description, SB 758, by Sen. Tom Umberg, prohibits retailers licensed to sell cigarettes or tobacco products from selling nitrous oxide. It exempts grocery stores and general merchandise stores with grocery departments that meet its definitions, but not convenience stores. SB 936, by Sens. Catherine Blakespear and Umberg, sets additional statewide limits on certain products, including containers that hold more than eight grams, containers designed for direct inhalation, flavored products and devices meant to facilitate inhalation, with exemptions for qualifying small cartridges used in food preparation and for medical, dental, industrial and automotive uses. Both laws take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Why Long Beach wants its own rules

Thrash-Ntuk told colleagues: "Over the past year, this substance has flooded our streets, leaving behind hazardous metal cylinders and silver canisters as litter in our neighborhoods," according to Patch. She said some businesses have exploited gaps by selling nitrous oxide without a conventional tobacco retail permit, which limits tobacco-specific enforcement, and described a recurring problem with a business in her Eighth District that operated under different retail categories. Council members said the aim is recreational misuse, not dentists, restaurants or mechanics.

Also on the agenda: trailers and smoking lounges

Two other items on the Oct. 13 agenda covered related street and retail enforcement. They were separate agenda items from the nitrous proposal.

Trailers and oversized vehicles (Item 17, file 26-56388). Thrash-Ntuk and Councilwoman Megan Kerr asked the city manager to report back within 90 days on options to strengthen regulation and enforcement of unattached trailers, nuisance trailers, oversized vehicles, mobile billboard trailers and trailer-based commercial activity on public streets. The options include code changes such as to Section 10.18.050 on mobile billboard advertising vehicles, location-based parking limits, licensing and permitting, citations, nuisance remedies and towing and storage rules.

Tobacco retailers and smoking lounges (Item 20, file 26-56334). The city manager recommended that the council receive and file a presentation on proposed ordinance amendments and ask the city attorney to draft changes to Titles 5, 21 and 22 of the municipal code to create a new regulatory framework for tobacco retailers and smoking lounges.

What it means for residents and businesses

If the framework goes forward, shops that sell nitrous oxide without proper permits could face citations or permit suspension. Businesses that use it legitimately would need to know where the exemptions fall. Residents who see discarded canisters or abandoned trailers would eventually have clearer local rules to point to when they report problems.

What's next

  • Within 60 days (about mid-December): staff are due to bring the first nitrous oxide ordinance to the council.
  • Within 120 days (about mid-February): proposed stronger local limits are due back.
  • Jan. 1, 2027: SB 758 and SB 936 take effect statewide.
  • Within 90 days of Oct. 13: the trailer report, if the council moved forward with Item 17.
  • Public input: the city says written comments can be sent to the City Clerk and through its meeting portal.

Want more local news? Read more at The Southbound 105.

Cover photo: Jon Sullivan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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