By Tall Cop Jermaine Galloway

Nitrous oxide, commonly called “laughing gas,” is a colorless gas with a long history of legitimate medical and dental use. In hospitals and dentist offices, it is used to help relax patients during procedures because it acts quickly and its effects wear off rapidly. Nitrous oxide falls into the drug category known as inhalants.

Most people associate nitrous oxide with dentistry, but from a “Boots On The Ground” perspective, we are increasingly seeing it show up outside of medical settings. Recreational misuse of nitrous has been around for years, but recently its visibility, accessibility, and popularity appear to be increasing in many communities.

The “Delta-8 of Hallucinogens”? A Closer Look at Amanita Muscaria in Today’s Market

Written By: Officer Jermaine Galloway, the Tall Cop

By Jermaine Galloway March 2026

One of the most valuable things I do at Tall Cop is conduct community scans across the country. These scans allow me to see what is showing up on store shelves, what clerks are selling, and what products are gaining traction before they become widespread.

February 2026

by Jermaine Galloway

Vape devices have evolved into highly customizable, low-cost products delivering unprecedented nicotine doses, making addiction easier, harder to detect, and more common especially among youth.

High in Plain Sight: What Today’s Vape Devices Are Really Delivering

Vape pens remain one of the fastest-evolving drug trends in the United States and worldwide. Their popularity especially, among youth continues to rise, including within school environments. While many people assume vapes contain only nicotine, what we are increasingly seeing is far more complex: extremely high nicotine doses, thousands of inhalations per device, and prices low enough to make them attractive & accessible to young users.

by Jermaine Galloway

January 2026

This is a question parents, educators, and law enforcement professionals hear often and one many people answer subconsciously without realizing it. There is a widespread belief that if a substance is legal, it must be safe. The word “legal” creates a false sense of security, especially when it comes to substances that are easily accessible, openly marketed, and not hidden in the shadows.

The truth is simple and important: "Legal does not mean safe". In fact, there are many legal substances that can be just as dangerous, and in some cases more dangerous, than illegal drugs. That same misconception applies to products labeled as “herbal” or “natural.” These terms are often mistaken for harmless, when in reality they can carry serious risks.