Is There a Good Reason Why Nitrous Oxide is Being Sold at a Vape Shop in Great Falls?

A concerning alert from the Cascade County Substance Abuse Prevention Alliance (SAPA) was sent out this morning regarding a potentially dangerous product that is sold right here in Great Falls.

And based on their report, it sounds extremely shady.

Controversial Product Sold in Great Falls Vape Shop

According to an email we received from SAPA, "a local vape shop is currently selling large nitrous oxide canisters marketed under the brand Space Gas."

Photos attached to the email show a stack of colorful packages of Space Gas on sale with a sign that says: "For Cooking Purposes Only."

According to the email, when a store employee was asked about the sign, they responded:

"I have to put up the sign so I can market it, but if they use it for something else, then it's not my problem."

What Else is Nitrous Oxide Used For?

As you may have heard, misuse of nitrous oxide is common and dangerous. According to the CDC, "acute nitrous oxide use induces a rapid onset of euphoric, anxiolytic, and hallucinogenic effects that are short-lived, disappearing within minutes."

The CDC also says "frequent or chronic long-term use can cause disabling neurologic sequelae, including neuronal demyelination and subacute combined spinal cord degeneration consequent to functional vitamin B12 deficiency."

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Yikes! And look, perhaps the store employee genuinely doesn't know what it could be used for but... the fact they acknowledged it could be "used for something else" seems like an indicator that they know what they're really selling.

By the way, why is a vape shop selling nitrous oxide "for cooking purposes only?"

What is Space Gas?

According to the official site for Space Gas, "Space Gas is a wholesale food-grade N₂O supplier built for professional kitchens, catering operations, and specialty foodservice distributors. We ship three sizes — 1L, 3L, and 4L — in 23 flavor profiles including classic Original Whipped Cream, palletized LTL, to commercial receiving only."

Photo Courtesy of Ashley H.

The company emphasizes that they are "wholesale only, verified only" throughout their site, stating they "decline accounts and orders that don't fit our intended-use profile."

They also added to their site: "Buyer is responsible for confirming the legality of sale, resale, and use of N₂O products in their jurisdiction."

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They use language like this throughout their site and once you scroll through enough, it starts to feel like that friend who is trying to assure you he's not breaking the law when... you kinda feel he is?

Their products come in a variety of flavors including cosmic grape, watermelon eclipse, pink starburst, and more.

Now, maybe they're legit and compliant... but does a vape shop in Great Falls sound like it fits the "intended-use profile" the folks at Space Gas described as "professional kitchens, catering operations, and specialty foodservice distributors"?

As a matter of fact - the more you start to put it together, the shadier it starts to sound... doesn't it?