NEWS RELEASE

 

DATE:            February 22, 2025

SUBJECT:   Sales of nitrous oxide for purpose of intoxication    

LOCATION:  City of Oxnard

CONTACT:   Corporal Steven Ramirez II, F.A.C.T. Compliance Officer

                        (805) 385-3920 (Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm) | [email protected]

 

Oxnard Tobacco Smoke Shop Found Selling Nitrous Oxide for Purpose of Intoxication  

On February, 22, 2025, officers from the Oxnard Police Department conducted several minor decoy operations involving tobacco smoke shops within the City of Oxnard. The reason for the decoy operation was to ensure local smoke shops were not selling tobacco products to underage individuals, or nitrous oxide products to individuals who intended to breathe, inhale, or ingest it for the purpose of intoxication. During the inspections, one tobacco smoke shop clerk sold the minor decoy a large container of nitrous oxide for the purposes of intoxication. The clerk was subsequently cited for a misdemeanor violation and released at the scene. The tobacco retailer business will be facing a recommended revocation of their City of Oxnard Tobacco Retailer Permit and Business Tax Certificate. 

The tobacco retailer inspections were part of the ongoing California Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program. Funding for the Tobacco Grant Program was a result of the passage of the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 (Prop. 56) increasing taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products by $2.00 starting in April 2017. The initiative allocates a portion of annual revenue to the California Department of Justice. https://oag.ca.gov/tobaccogrants

DATE / TIME PREPARED:  February 22, 2025 / 14:23 p.m.