Nitrous Oxide Addiction Lawsuit Claims Manufacturer Concealed Galaxy Gas Side Effects

Lawsuit accuses Galaxy Gas of targeting young users with flavored nitrous oxide canisters, leading to addiction and permanent neurological damage.

A California man has filed a lawsuit against Galaxy Gas and several affiliated entities, alleging that the company illegally marketed flavored nitrous oxide canisters for recreational use and failed to warn consumers about serious side effects, including addiction, cognitive decline and permanent nerve damage.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by 22-year-old Alexander Kellam on April 2, 2025, in Orange County Superior Court. It names Galaxy Gas LLC, SBK International Inc., and SBK International LLC, along with the company’s founders and four Southern California smoke shops that allegedly sold the product for inhalation despite knowing the risks.

Although marketed as a whipped cream charger, the lawsuit claims Galaxy Gas was intentionally designed, packaged, and distributed as a recreational inhalant, specifically marketed toward teens and young adults. The product is sold in bright canisters with candy-like flavors, such as “blue raspberry” and “vanilla cupcake,” and includes tools such as nozzles and balloons that facilitate inhalation.

The marketing and sale of flavored nitrous oxide canisters like Galaxy Gas have come under increased scrutiny in recent months, as public health officials and injury victims raise concerns about how these products are promoted and sold. While labeled for culinary use, lawsuits allege the packaging, flavoring and distribution tactics are designed to encourage recreational inhalation, particularly among young adults.

As awareness of the risks has grown, a rising number of nitrous oxide addiction lawsuits have been filed nationwide, accusing manufacturers and retailers of concealing side effects and prioritizing profit over public safety.

Plaintiffs in these lawsuits often report similar patterns of early exposure through smoke shops or peer use, misleading safety claims, and severe neurological damage after repeated inhalation. Like Kellam, many allege they were never warned of the long-term consequences, including nerve damage, cognitive decline and addiction.

According to the complaint, the defendants marketed Galaxy Gas through retail locations that primarily sell paraphernalia associated with smoking and drug use, including vapes, bongs and flavored nicotine. Kellam alleges that this environment and the product design made the intended use clear: to inhale the gas for a euphoric high.

Kellam began using Galaxy Gas in his teens and developed a dependency on the product, using it frequently and in large volumes. The lawsuit details how repeated exposure to high concentrations of nitrous oxide caused him to suffer a range of serious injuries, including:

• Addiction to nitrous oxide
• Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency
• Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
• Cyanosis due to oxygen deprivation
• Cognitive and behavioral impairments
• Neurological deterioration

The complaint accuses the defendants of concealing these risks from consumers and misrepresenting the product as safe. It also alleges that Galaxy Gas misled buyers by implying the product was FDA approved, a claim Kellam’s attorneys say created a false sense of safety around a product never intended for human consumption in that manner.

In addition to the corporate defendants, the lawsuit also holds Karim Tijani Amor, Sammy Amor and Ben Amor, the founders of Galaxy Gas, personally responsible for overseeing product design, distribution and branding that facilitated the recreational abuse of the gas.

Retailers named in the complaint include Amsterdam Smoke Shop, Cloud Market, Smoke & Vape, and DTLA Smoke Shop, all of which allegedly sold Galaxy Gas for off-label use to Kellam and others, despite its dangers.

Earlier this month, the court scheduled a case management conference for September 5, 2025, in Department N17 of the Orange County Superior Court. During this proceeding, the court will meet with the parties to discuss the procedural status of the lawsuit, including deadlines for discovery, motions and potential settlement discussions.

The conference is designed to establish an organized timeline for the case, ensure that both sides are complying with filing requirements, and determine whether early resolution is possible or if the case will proceed toward trial. Kellam’s attorneys are expected to present an overview of the claims, while defendants may raise objections or request additional time to respond to the allegations.

Kellam’s complaint seeks damages for personal injury, medical expenses, and emotional distress, as well as injunctive relief to prevent the continued sale of flavored nitrous oxide canisters intended for inhalation.