People caught in possession of nitrous oxide – laughing gas – face two years in prison under new Government rules.
The gas will be categorized as a class-C drug.
The drug is one of the most used by 16-24-year-olds.
Heavy use can lead to a range of illnesses including nerve-related symptoms.
Supply of nitrous oxide for recreational use is currently banned – but possession is not.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said people in the UK were “fed up with yobs abusing drugs in public spaces and leaving behind a disgraceful mess for others to clean up”.
She added: “Earlier this year the Prime Minister and I promised a zero-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour and that is what we are delivering.
“If you are caught using laughing gas as a drug, you could be hit with a hefty fine or face jail time.”
The Government’s crime and policing minister Chris Philp said:
“There is no question that abusing laughing gas is dangerous to people’s health and it is paramount we take decisive action before the situation gets worse.
“Not only are we making possession an offence for the first time, we are also doubling the maximum sentence for supply to 14 years, so the dealers profiting off this trade have no place to hide.”