The mayor of Nice launched a national petition on Tuesday, November 11, to ban the sale of nitrous oxide to individuals. Following several tragedies related to this gas being misused, the Nice municipality is once again calling on the State to legislate.
Christian Estrosi has decided to take political action. This Tuesday, November 11, the mayor of Nice launched an online petition addressed to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to “ban the sale of nitrous oxide to individuals across the entire territory.” In his text, he mentions several recent tragedies: “little Mathis will never grow up. In Nice, firefighter Jérémie Boulon fell while serving others. Their common point? Their paths crossed those of reckless drivers who had consumed nitrous oxide.”
This petition comes amid significant concern about the misuse of nitrous oxide, often inhaled for its euphoric effects. Christian Estrosi points out that in Nice several measures have already been taken: “since this summer, we have issued a municipal decree banning the consumption, possession, and disposal of nitrous oxide on public streets; and since October 1, the sale of nitrous oxide is prohibited to all adults unless they demonstrate that they are trade professionals.”
However, for the mayor, these local decisions are not enough. He calls for a national response: “a City can do a lot, but it cannot do everything. A law is needed to tackle a scourge that endangers lives on our roads and in our neighborhoods, representing both a security issue and a public health issue.”
The petition demands the creation of a crime to penalize the resale and massive possession of this gas, as well as increased legal means for law enforcement to bolster checks and combat online sales. Christian Estrosi concludes: “we are not seeking controversy but results. There have been too many tragedies, too many victims. Let’s not wait for the next broken family to act.”
Local measures, a national call
At the end of August, the city of Nice had already taken a significant step in its fight against nitrous oxide. It had adopted a decree banning its consumption, possession, and abandonment in public spaces. Municipal officers had observed a proliferation of cartridges and empty bottles discarded in streets and parks, sources of pollution and risk.
As of October 1, 2025, a new ban came into force: the sale of the product to adult individuals, except with professional justification. For Christian Estrosi, this was a necessary step: “local authorities are forced to act to make up for the lack of national legislation. […] After the consumption ban this summer, the sales ban in October marks a decisive step. But only a law will permanently curb this scourge.”
The mayor also reminded of the health dangers of this gas: neurological, cardiovascular, and psychological disorders. Beyond health, waste treatment facilities also suffer the consequences of abandoning these pressurized cartridges, which can cause explosions.
This local concern is echoed in the Senate, notably by the senator of Alpes-Maritimes, Alexandra Borchio Fontimp.
A mobilization shared between local elected officials and parliamentarians
As early as February 2025, the senator had questioned the Minister of the Interior about “the dangers associated with the misuse of nitrous oxide and its impacts on public safety and health.” She pointed out that this gas, “undetectable and freely available, is increasingly diverted from its food or medical use.”
Following the death of Nice firefighter Jérémie Boulon, caused by a driver under the influence of this product, the parliamentarian expressed her anger and reaffirmed the need for a legislative response. She advocated for punishing driving under the influence of nitrous oxide “even in the absence of an accident” and imposing restrictions on sales.
On June 26, after another dramatic accident on the A8 motorway, Alexandra Borchio Fontimp reiterated her plea: “it is urgent to combat road behavior related to the use of nitrous oxide.” She insisted: “this new tragedy, which claimed the lives of at least three people and left one critically injured, should alert us collectively.”
The senator, co-author of a bill on the prevention of road violence, stated that she would remain “fully mobilized to have her proposals adopted.”
The petition launched by Christian Estrosi is thus part of a broader movement led by several Côte d’Azur elected officials. All are asking the State to intervene in the face of a phenomenon that goes beyond the local scope. While awaiting a possible law, the municipality maintains its decrees and awareness campaigns. The message remains the same: act before another tragedy occurs.
