Pokemon battles have never been an especially safe event to watch in person. Although there is protective glass between the fans and the crowd, it is not rare for a missed attack to break through them and injure someone in the crowd. And after a recent tragedy, many have called for Weezing, with their gases, to be banned from League matches to ensure the safety of the fans.
Weezing gas is toxic to pokemon and no less so – perhaps even more – to humans. It is a quick-acting toxin which deals significant damage even on the battlefield, can blind and scar the enemy and has often been compared to various chemical weapons, although it is significantly less harmful than Vileplume gas. The effectiveness of pokemon centers has made this a moot issue for the pokemon exposed to this gas; because of the frequency of battles (or perhaps the natural toughness of those involved) pokemon medicine is even more advanced than the human kind, and indeed many of them recover from far worse injuries on a regular basis.
Humans, however, are not so tough, nor do they have any true equivalent to a pokemon center. According to its detractors, Weezing gas is a substance which eats away and slips through barriers in a way which a flamethrower does not. To fans of Weezing, the pokemon species is being used as a scapegoat for a horrific tragedy, and the real blame lies with poor oversight on the part of the League itself and a faulty shield which would not have blocked any attack.
Regardless of who is to blame, fourteen spectators are dead and over a hundred more are faced with lifelong injuries.
