Ohio § 2925.32

Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 2925.32, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 2925.32.

(A) Divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply to the dispensing or distributing

of nitrous oxide. (1) No person shall knowingly dispense or distribute a harmful intoxicant to a person

age eighteen or older if the person who dispenses or distributes it knows or has reason

to believe that the harmful intoxicant will be used in violation of section 2925.31 of the Revised Code . (2) No person shall knowingly dispense or distribute a harmful intoxicant to a person

under age eighteen if the person who dispenses or distributes it knows or has reason

to believe that the harmful intoxicant will be used in violation of section 2925.31 of the Revised Code .  Division (A)(2) of this section does not prohibit either of the following: (a) Dispensing or distributing a harmful intoxicant to a person under age eighteen if

a written order from the juvenile's parent or guardian is provided to the dispenser

or distributor; (b) Dispensing or distributing gasoline or diesel fuel to a person under age eighteen

if the dispenser or distributor does not know or have reason to believe the product

will be used in violation of section 2925.31 of the Revised Code .  Division (A)(2)(a) of this section does not require a person to obtain a written

order from the parent or guardian of a person under age eighteen in order to distribute

or dispense gasoline or diesel fuel to the person. (B)(1) No person shall knowingly dispense or distribute nitrous oxide to a person age twenty-one

or older if the person who dispenses or distributes it knows or has reason to believe

the nitrous oxide will be used in violation of section 2925.31 of the Revised Code . (2) Except for lawful medical, dental, or clinical purposes, no person shall knowingly

dispense or distribute nitrous oxide to a person under age twenty-one. (3) No person, at the time a cartridge of nitrous oxide is sold to another person, shall

sell a device that allows the purchaser to inhale nitrous oxide from cartridges or

to hold nitrous oxide released from cartridges for purposes of inhalation.  The sale of any such device constitutes a rebuttable presumption that the person

knew or had reason to believe that the purchaser intended to abuse the nitrous oxide. (4) No person who dispenses or distributes nitrous oxide in cartridges shall fail to

comply with either of the following: (a) The record-keeping requirements established under division (F) of this section; (b) The labeling and transaction identification requirements established under division

(G) of this section. (C) This section does not apply to products used in making, fabricating, assembling,

transporting, or constructing a product or structure by manual labor or machinery

for sale or lease to another person, or to the mining, refining, or processing of

natural deposits. (D)(1)(a) Whoever violates division (A)(1) or (2) or division (B)(1), (2), or (3) of this section

is guilty of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, a felony of the fifth degree.  If the offender previously has been convicted of a drug abuse offense, trafficking

in harmful intoxicants is a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender is a professionally licensed person, in addition to any other sanction

imposed for trafficking in harmful intoxicants, the court immediately shall comply

with section 2925.38 of the Revised Code . If the offender has a driver's or commercial driver's license or permit, section 2929.33 of the Revised Code applies. (b) Any offender who received a mandatory suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial

driver's license or permit under this section prior to September 13, 2016, may file

a motion with the sentencing court requesting the termination of the suspension.  However, an offender who pleaded guilty to or was convicted of a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially similar municipal ordinance or law of another state or the United

States that arose out of the same set of circumstances as the violation for which

the offender's license or permit was suspended under this section shall not file such

a motion. Upon the filing of a motion under division (D)(1)(b) of this section, the sentencing

court, in its discretion, may terminate the suspension. (2) Whoever violates division (B)(4)(a) or (b) of this section is guilty of improperly

dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (E) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation of division (A)(2) or (B)(2)

of this section that: (1) An individual exhibited to the defendant or an officer or employee of the defendant,

for purposes of establishing the individual's age, a driver's license or permit issued

by this state, a commercial driver's license or permit issued by this state, an identification

card issued pursuant to section 4507.50 of the Revised Code , for another document that purports to be a license, permit, or identification card

described in this division; (2) The document exhibited appeared to be a genuine, unaltered document, to pertain to

the individual, and to establish the individual's age; (3) The defendant or the officer or employee of the defendant otherwise did not have

reasonable cause to believe that the individual was under the age represented. (F) Beginning July 1, 2001, a person who dispenses or distributes nitrous oxide shall

record each transaction involving the dispensing or distributing of the nitrous oxide

on a separate card.  The person shall require the purchaser to sign the card and provide a complete residence

address.  The person dispensing or distributing the nitrous oxide shall sign and date the

card.  The person shall retain the card recording a transaction for one year from the date

of the transaction.  The person shall maintain the cards at the person's business address and make them

available during normal business hours for inspection and copying by officers or employees

of the state board of pharmacy or of other law enforcement agencies of this state

or the United States that are authorized to investigate violations of Chapter 2925.,

3719., or 4729. of the Revised Code or the federal drug abuse control laws. The cards used to record each transaction shall inform the purchaser of the following: (1) That nitrous oxide cartridges are to be used only for purposes of preparing food; (2) That inhalation of nitrous oxide can have dangerous health effects; (3) That it is a violation of state law to distribute or dispense cartridges of nitrous

oxide to any person under age twenty-one, punishable as a felony of the fifth degree. (G)(1) Each cartridge of nitrous oxide dispensed or distributed in this state shall bear

the following printed warning: “Nitrous oxide cartridges are to be used only for purposes of preparing food.  Nitrous oxide cartridges may not be sold to persons under age twenty-one.  Do not inhale contents.  Misuse can be dangerous to your health.” (2) Each time a person dispenses or distributes one or more cartridges of nitrous oxide,

the person shall mark the packaging containing the cartridges with a label or other

device that identifies the person who dispensed or distributed the nitrous oxide and

the person's business address.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 2925.32

What does Ohio Revised Code § 2925.32 cover?

Section 2925.32 is part of the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutory law of Ohio. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Ohio § 2925.32?

A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 2925.32" (Ohio). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Ohio law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Ohio official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Ohio attorney.

How does Ohio § 2925.32 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Ohio can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Ohio.