Nitrous oxide – laughing gas – legal environment and planned changes
Publication date: August 21, 2025
Application in medicine
Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide (N2O), is legal in Poland and used exclusively for medical purposes by authorized entities such as hospitals and private clinics. Its medical uses include anesthesia during dental, surgical, and gynecological procedures, as well as pain management. In medicine, nitrous oxide is considered a medical device or medicinal product, depending on its use and form. In medical practice, it is a medicinal gas used under the supervision of qualified personnel, meaning its sale and use are strictly regulated. In Poland, nitrous oxide is available in pharmacies and pharmaceutical wholesalers, but only by prescription and to medical entities.
