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• ' Vicente � F LEY lssar]nieink 4 to VICE CHAIR,OC 9oRR0 OF SUPERVISORS SUPERVISOR, 2nd DISTRICT May 6, 2025 Santa Ana City Council 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Ordinance Adding Article XIV to Chapter 10 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Prohibiting the Sale or Distribution of Nitrous Oxide Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers, We are writing to express our strong support for the proposed ordinance that would prohibit the sale or distribution of nitrous oxide at retail stores within the city. We also appreciate Councilmember Lopez's introduction of commonsense legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide possession and distribution and the collaboration with the Mayor and public safety to move this forward. Inhaling nitrous oxide(a.k.a. NOX, laughing gas, whippets, or galaxy gas) suffocates the brain, causes serious brain damage, and can even lead to death. It is also not detectible by any drug test, snaking it a more difficult to prevent. This ordinance is a crucial step to address a growing public health issue affecting our County due to the loopholes in existing state law. Currently, many most Orange County cities lack specific local regulations governing the sale of nitrous oxide and it is our sincere hope that other municipalities will follow Santa Ana's lead.This local ordinance will empower the city of Santa Ana to better protect public health by prohibiting sales to individuals likely to misuse the product and closing existing loopholes. For example,under current state law the retail sale of nitrous oxide is legal,but the possession of nitrous oxide with the intent to inhale is a misdemeanor. In February the County of Orange became the first county in California to ban the recreational sale of nitrous oxide.Adopting this ordinance will align the City of Santa Ana with the preventative action already taken by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.This kind of coordinated effort between city and county governments is crucial for effectively addressing regional public health and safety challenges. We appreciate that the proposed ordinance thoughtfully includes exemptions for legitimate uses,such as in food products,specific wholesale distribution,vehicle performance enhancement,supervised medical and dental applications, and pharmacy dispensing. Our offices remain committed to working with our local partner agencies to improve public health and safety,and this ordinance is a positive step in that direction. Addressing the recreational sale and misuse of nitrous oxide is vital for the well-being of our community. We urge you to conduct the first reading and adopt the ordinance to prohibit the non-exempt sale and distribution of nitrous oxide in Santa Ana. 'Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, Vicente Sarmiento Foley Supervisor,District 2 District 5 Orange County Board of Supervisors air,Orange County Board of Supervisors