A gripless, non-lethal, self-protection weapon comprises a clamshell with top and bottom shells pivotally coupled together about a rear hinge and defining a cavity therein. The clamshell has a forward opening and the top shell has a top opening. A panel is slidably carried by the top shell and selectively covers the top opening. A nozzle is carried by the clamshell at the forward opening. A cartridge is removably positioned in the cavity. The cartridge comprises a barrel with an outlet positioned at the forward opening of the clamshell; a compressed gas vessel; and a diverter to redirect compressed gas from the compressed gas vessel in a rearward direction towards an inlet of the barrel in a forward direction.