Nitrous oxide continues to be a popular intoxicant among young people.
After the announcement from Bollnäs municipality to ban nitrous oxide in public places, several municipalities are now considering following suit.
– If we can make a decision that would help in preventive work, we are willing to do it, says Johan Abrahamsson (M), who is a municipal councilor in the municipality of Mariestad.
Doctors have warned against it, the police dismiss it – but the young people love it. In just a few years, nitrous oxide has become a strong intoxicating trend among young people, and almost everywhere in the country today you can glimpse the blue tubes and the traces of the fast intoxication.
– Now we are starting to see that even bottles appear on Mondays here in Mariestad as well. Then you have to look at what solutions there are, says Johan Abrahamsson (M), who is a municipal councilor in the municipality of Mariestad.
“We have to take the lead on this issue”
The government has appointed an inquiry into regulation which is expected to be completed this autumn, but while waiting for a decision the municipalities have become increasingly impatient on the issue. Bollnäs municipality recently decided to introduce a total ban on the gas and when TV4 Nyheterna asks if more municipalities are considering going the same way, Ulricehamn, Vaggeryd, Vetlanda, Botkyrka and Mariestads municipality answer yes to the question.
– Most often we go hand in hand with the heads of government in Stockholm. But sometimes the municipality has to go first and sometimes the government. And now we believe that we must take the lead in this matter to be able to work further with prevention, says Johan Abrahamsson (M).
The County Administrative Board has the last word
For the municipalities that want to introduce a total ban, this means that they need to change the regulations. The regulations must also not involve unnecessary coercion on the public or make unnecessary restrictions on the individual’s freedom. Then the County Administrative Board can revoke the decision.
– It is the rules of the Public Order Act that must be adhered to. That it should be a disturbance in a public place and in the municipality. Then they also have to comply with the rules that are there. The regulations must be clear, enforceable and not be an excessively restrictive measure, says Therese Bragd Gustavsson, who is a county lawyer at the Västra Götaland County Administrative Board.
Mariestad municipality has not yet started work on a total ban on nitrous oxide, but municipal councilor Johan Abrahamsson tells TV4 Nyheterna that they will investigate further how a ban can be designed.
– Everything that we can work on preventively is incredibly important. If we can make a decision that would help in preventive work, we are willing to do so.