Nitrous Oxide Lawsuit Overview

Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas commonly used in medical and culinary settings, known for its anesthetic and propellant properties. In healthcare, it is often administered by dentists and surgeons for its mild sedative and pain-relieving effects. In kitchens, it serves as a whipping agent for cream dispensers. However, nitrous oxide has also gained popularity as a recreational inhalant, often referred to as “whippits” or “laughing gas.”

When inhaled, nitrous oxide produces a short-lived euphoric or dissociative high by temporarily blocking signals in the brain. While the effects are brief, repeated use can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12, which is essential for nerve and brain function.

Over time, chronic exposure to nitrous oxide can lead to nerve damage, cognitive impairment, paralysis, and even death.

Despite these risks, manufacturers have sold flavored, oversized canisters under brand names like Galaxy Gas, Looper, and Cosmic Gas, which are promoted and distributed in a way that encourages abuse. Nitrous oxide lawsuits claim that these companies intentionally targeted vulnerable consumers, especially teens and young adults, by using candy-like flavors, social media influencers, and colorful packaging.

Products were frequently sold through smoke shops and vape stores, rather than culinary supply channels, making them widely accessible for misuse. Retailers and manufacturers sell nitrous oxide canisters, often exploiting legal loopholes intended to allow them to market them as culinary tools, even though they were encouraging recreational use.

As a result, nitrous oxide lawsuits are now being pursued by individuals and families who claim the gas caused addiction, long-term neurological injury, or wrongful death, particularly where sales exceeded legal volume limits or were made without proper warnings.

Who Can File A Nitrous Oxide Lawsuit?

Financial compensation may be available through a Galaxy Gas lawsuit or other nitrous oxide lawsuit for individuals who used flavored canisters sold at smoke shops, and suffered serious health complications or loss, including:

• Recreational nitrous oxide use
• Permanent or partial paralysis
• Blood clots
• Limb function loss
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Heart palpitations
• Loss of consciousness
• Bladder dysfunction
• Bowel dysfunction
• Death from asphyxiation
• Accident injury (third party)
• Wrongful death (third party)

To determine if you or a loved one may qualify for a Galaxy Gas lawsuit, submit your information for a free review by a nitrous oxide injury lawyer, who can evaluate your potential claim and explain your legal options.

Attorneys handle all Galaxy Gas lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no fees or expenses unless a settlement or payout is awarded in your case.

2025 Nitrous Oxide Lawsuit Updates

• December 12, 2025 Update: Lawyers in a closely watched Galaxy Gas nitrous oxide injury lawsuit will appear before a California state court judge on January 9, 2026, after the court moved a key case management conference up by several months. The case, brought by a former teen user alleging addiction and neurological harm, is among the first nitrous oxide lawsuits to move forward and is being monitored as a potential bellwether for broader litigation over flavored canisters marketed through smoke shops.
• December 2, 2025 Update: A new medical case report has linked recreational nitrous oxide use to pulmonary embolism, adding to growing evidence of severe health risks tied to inhaling the gas. Researchers from the University of Miami warned that frequent use of nitrous oxide can lead to life-threatening blood clots, nerve damage, and paralysis, urging doctors to screen young patients for signs of abuse.
• November 18, 2025 Update: Canadian regulators recalled multiple nitrous oxide “cream charger” brands after finding they were being sold without authorization and posed serious risks when used recreationally. The action follows rising reports of neurological injuries and deaths linked to inhalation, which have also driven nitrous oxide lawsuits in the U.S. Plaintiffs claim manufacturers and retailers sold flavored canisters for recreational use without proper warnings about severe, long-term harm.
• November 11, 2025 Update: A new Australian study found that recreational nitrous oxide use is linked to serious neurological and psychiatric effects, including psychosis and suicidal ideation. Nearly half of the ER patients studied showed psychotic symptoms, and many reported self-harm concerns tied to nitrous oxide misuse. Researchers warn that these risks are often missed in emergency settings and call for greater clinical awareness.
• November 3, 2025 Update: A statewide sting operation in Florida led to 70 felony arrests and 16 warrants against retailers accused of illegally selling nitrous oxide canisters for recreational use. The crackdown comes amid rising concern over the health risks of inhaling nitrous oxide, including brain damage, paralysis, and death, and follows a surge in lawsuits accusing manufacturers and distributors of marketing flavored canisters to young consumers despite known dangers.
• October 15, 2025 Update: A new study published in Frontiers of Psychiatry found that individuals with psychiatric disorders such as depression or ADHD face higher risks from recreational nitrous oxide use. The findings add to growing concerns amid rising lawsuits filed by individuals who suffered nerve damage, brain injuries, or death after inhaling nitrous oxide from flavored canisters marketed for recreational use.
• September 19, 2025 Update: States and cities nationwide are moving to ban flavored nitrous oxide canisters after a surge in youth addiction, neurological injuries, and deaths. Plaintiffs argue these legislative crackdowns reinforce claims that manufacturers and smoke shops knowingly targeted teens with candy-colored packaging and flavors while ignoring clear warning signs.
• September 2, 2025 Update: Lawsuits continue to mount against manufacturers of flavored nitrous oxide canisters, as medical experts warn repeated use can trigger functional B12 deficiency and irreversible spinal cord damage. Recent complaints allege companies like Galaxy Gas marketed their products in ways that encouraged recreational abuse, while failing to provide warnings about the risk of permanent neurological injury.
• August 11, 2025 Update: An insurer moved to deny coverage for a vape shop sued over nitrous oxide canister sales, arguing its policy excludes injuries that occurred off-premises and those involving drug use. The dispute highlights potential coverage gaps in cases tied to flavored whippet sales.
• July 31, 2025 Update: A new report attributes 1,240 U.S. deaths (2010–2023) to nitrous oxide overdose, alongside risks of brain damage and paralysis. The findings add public-health pressure as consumer suits continue to expand.

What is Nitrous Oxide?

Nitrous oxide is a colorless, non-flammable gas commonly used in medical and food service settings. In dentistry and minor surgical procedures, it is administered as a mild anesthetic and sedative, helping patients relax and manage pain. In commercial kitchens, it serves as a propellant in whipped cream dispensers and other pressurized food systems.

When used appropriately under medical or culinary supervision, nitrous oxide is considered safe. However, outside these environments, the gas has become increasingly misused for its short-term psychoactive effects.

Nitrous Oxide Used for Whippets

A whippet is a method of inhaling nitrous oxide to achieve a quick, intense high. Although the gas is packaged in small metal cartridges originally designed for culinary use, manufacturers and smoke shops have increasingly sold nitrous oxide cartridges for the specific purpose of inhalation.

To perform a whippet, users typically release the gas into a balloon using a metal cracker device or dispenser. The balloon allows the gas to warm slightly and makes it easier to inhale in a single, controlled breath. Once inhaled, the nitrous oxide creates a brief, dissociative high, often described as a floating or out-of-body sensation, along with euphoria, distorted sound, and visual perception.

This effect usually lasts less than a minute, leading many users to repeat the process multiple times in one session.

Lawsuits claim that manufacturers leaned into this trend by flavoring their products, enlarging the canisters far beyond traditional sizes, and selling them through smoke shops and online retailers that also offer balloons and inhalation accessories.

Branding, packaging, and marketing strategies often made little attempt to hide the intended use, effectively promoting nitrous oxide as a tool for substance abuse and transforming a once-industrial product into a popular party drug disguised as a food item.

Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Side Effects

Inhaling nitrous oxide from flavored, high-volume canisters sold at smoke shops, especially without oxygen supplementation or medical supervision can cause a range of serious health complications. Many of these products are inhaled repeatedly in a short period, amplifying the risks beyond what is typically seen in clinical settings.

Below are the most commonly reported injuries and side effects associated with individuals who have repeatedly huffed nitrous oxide canisters.

Allegations Raised in Nitrous Oxide Lawsuits

Lawsuits have been filed against Galaxy Gas, Looper, Cosmic Gas, and associated smoke shops raise the following key claims:

• Marketed nitrous oxide for inhalation, not culinary use: Although labeled for food use, the products were sold primarily in smoke shops alongside balloons and inhalation tools, with no genuine culinary application.
• Targeted minors and young adults with flavors and design: Canisters were flavored like candy and packaged in colorful, youth-oriented designs, making them appealing to teens and social media users.
• Promoted through social media and influencer content: Brands allegedly used platforms like TikTok and Instagram to glamorize nitrous oxide as a party trend, helping normalize and encourage inhalation.
• Failed to warn about addiction, nerve damage, or death: Despite known risks, the products lacked adequate health warnings, leaving users unaware of the potential for serious, long-term harm.
• Violated state laws on volume limits and sales restrictions: Many canisters far exceeded legal weight limits (e.g., 16 grams in Florida), and were sold without checking intended use or purchase quantity.
• Used deceptive product descriptions: Manufacturers allegedly labeled the gas as “culinary lubricant” or similar terms to evade scrutiny while clearly implying its real purpose was to get high.

Nitrous Oxide Products Named in Lawsuits

Lawsuits have been filed against several major nitrous oxide manufacturers, alleging they designed, flavored, packaged, and distributed nitrous oxide products for the purpose of inhalation, while disguising them as culinary tools.

Plaintiffs claim these companies used deceptive branding, youth-oriented marketing, and unauthorized distribution channels to promote recreational use, contributing to addiction, neurological injury, and wrongful death.

Pluto Brands, LLC – Galaxy Gas

Galaxy Gas is one of the most widely recognized brands cited in legal complaints. The canisters are sold in large sizes (up to 1 liter), often in flavors such as Cotton Candy, Vanilla Raspberry, and Blueberry Pie. Despite being labeled as whipped cream chargers, the products are sold almost exclusively through smoke shops and online head shops. The brand has become so synonymous with abuse that “Galaxy Gas” is now slang for recreational nitrous oxide use

Dimo Hemp LLC – Looper Whip

Looper Whip tanks are another flavored nitrous oxide product sold under the guise of culinary use. Marketed with bright, psychedelic packaging and fruit-inspired flavors, Looper products have gained popularity on social media platforms and are commonly stocked alongside vapes and cannabis-related accessories—further signaling their intended purpose as a recreational inhalan

Sweet and Sour Holdings, LLC – Cosmic Gas

Cosmic Gas tanks are also designed to resemble novelty or lifestyle products, featuring vibrant space-themed branding. Like Galaxy Gas, these products are sold in large volumes and fruit or candy flavors, often promoted through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Complaints allege the company deliberately used this branding to attract younger users and encourage repeated use.

Is There a Galaxy Gas Class Action Lawsuit?

Yes. A class action lawsuit was filed in February 2025 on behalf of consumers who purchased Galaxy Gas and similar products. The lead plaintiff is the Estate of Margaret Caldwell, a Florida woman who died after developing an addiction to flavored nitrous oxide canisters.

The lawsuit seeks to establish two classes:

• A Plaintiff Class of individuals who were misled into purchasing nitrous oxide canisters for recreational use
• A Defendant Class of smoke shops across the U.S. that sold the products in violation of consumer protection laws

If certified, the class action could result in a nationwide ban on recreational nitrous oxide sales and financial compensation for those harmed.

Nitrous Oxide Lawsuit Examples

Galaxy Gas Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The Estate of Margaret P. Caldwell filed a nitrous oxide lawsuit in the Orange County Circuit Court in Florida on February 6, 2025, alleging that repeated exposure to flavored nitrous oxide products sold by local smoke shops and manufacturers directly led to her death. According to the complaint, Caldwell purchased products sold under brand names like Galaxy Gas, Looper, and Cosmic Gas from at least seven different smoke shops in Central Florida, often using the gas immediately after purchase in the store parking lots.

The lawsuit claims that despite her obvious dependence, retailers continued selling her oversized, flavored canisters—many of which allegedly exceeded Florida’s legal volume limit of 16 grams. On November 22, 2024, Caldwell was found dead behind one of the same shops that had routinely sold her the gas. Her estate is seeking class action status on behalf of other consumers, as well as damages for wrongful death and an injunction to prevent future recreational sales of nitrous oxide through smoke shops.

Missouri Politte Verdict Against United Brands

The family of Marissa Politte filed a nitrous oxide lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court in Missouri, ultimately resulting in a landmark $745 million jury verdict in 2023. The case stemmed from a fatal car crash in which the driver who killed Politte was allegedly under the influence of nitrous oxide at the time of the accident.

The lawsuit targeted United Brands, Inc., a manufacturer of nitrous oxide products, accusing the company of conspiring to market and distribute the gas as a recreational inhalant. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that the company sold products in large volumes, failed to restrict distribution, and turned a blind eye to the way its gas was being used. The verdict is considered one of the most high-profile and financially significant cases involving nitrous oxide abuse, and it helped bring national attention to the dangers of inhalant misuse.

How to Join the Nitrous Oxide Lawsuit

If you or a family member were harmed by Galaxy Gas or other nitrous oxide products sold at smoke shops, you may be entitled to compensation.

Attorneys are investigating:

• Personal injury claims
• Wrongful death lawsuits

These cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, meaning no upfront costs and no fees unless compensation is awarded.