Oh yedah, freons can be some nasty things. r134 not so bad though and I don't think anybody is regulating it the same as r12 and some those derivitaves. Sorry my spelling sucks tonite. You can buy 134 over the counter most places without any certifications. R12 and the others may be different.

One more thing, sorry if anyone else has mentioned it, freons do not go bad or wear out. Your AC needing a "recharge" just means you've got a leak, which in turn is one of the reasons the EPA wants to do away with R12. Many folks think it's just wearing out when in fact it's leaking out.