The Know Daily - Wednesday 18 October

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Seagreen - Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm - has finally achieved full operational status, meaning it is now generating enough clean, renewable energy to power nearly 1.6 million homes annually (or approximately two-thirds of all homes in Scotland!). The news has been described as a “landmark moment” for the global offshore wind industry.

⛔ Laughing gas ban

Nitrous oxide - also known as laughing gas or NOS - will become illegal next month, the Home Office has announced.

Remind me what nitrous oxide is?
Laughing gas, which comes in small metal canisters, is frequently used as pain relief in dentistry and to produce whipped cream in cooking. It is also one of the most commonly used recreational drugs among young people. When inhaled, it can make people feel “relaxed, giggly, light-headed or dizzy” as well as “anxious or paranoid”, said the BBC.

Got it. So what has the government said?
From 8 November, nitrous oxide will become a controlled Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971). Dealers face up to 14 years in prison, while people caught with laughing gas for recreational use could face an unlimited fine, a “visible” community punishment or a caution, which would appear on their criminal record.

The drug can continue to be legitimately used for certain purposes “including in professional kitchens, [by] dentists and in maternity wards as pain relief”, said Sky News.

Why the change?
The new law comes amid a wider government crackdown on anti-social behaviour, with police linking nitrous oxide with “intimidating gatherings” and “empty canisters strewn across public spaces”.

Several studies have also suggested that inhaling nitrous oxide can carry serious health risks. Intensive and frequent use is thought to lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause neurological damage.

What have critics of the ban said?
Some believe a clampdown is “unwise and unnecessary”, said Sky News, with one expert cautioning that criminalising the substance could encourage infrequent users to try other substances or buy nitrous oxide “from the dark web”.