Oklahoma approves use of Nitrogen as alternative death penalty method

Oklahoma has become the first U.S. state to approve the use of Nitrogen for executions as a new measure was signed into law by Governor Mary Fallin.

The new legislation was signed on Friday and provided an alternative death penalty method if lethal injections aren't possible, either because of a court ruling or a drug shortage, reported AOL.

The law came as executions are on hold in Oklahoma while the U.S. Supreme Court decided if the state's current three-drug method of lethal injection is constitutional.

Supporters of the new measure maintained that nitrogen-induced hypoxia was "a humane and painless method" of execution that required no medical expertise. However, detractors have retorted by saying that there have been no reports of nitrogen ever being used to execute humans and therefore, the method is untested. Some states have even banned its use to put animals to sleep.

A statement released by Fallin said that she supported the use of nitrogen as an alternative death penalty method as she believed that capital punishment must be performed "effectively and without cruelty."

The bill, which was authored by Republican Rep. Mike Christian and Republican Sen. Anthony Sykes, cleared the state House on an 85-10 vote and passed the Senate on a 41-0 vote.