Debra BorchardtOctober 2, 2019
Vape products, once considered the rising stars of the legal cannabis marketplace have struggled under the weight of the vaping crisis. Massachusetts banned all vape products for four months in order to err on the side of caution while the issue is investigated. Around the middle of August, vape product sales began dropping according to data from Headset, however, it seems the group may be slowly recovering. The following table was provided by Headset.
Sales in Nevada and Washington both began to pick back up, while California seems to have stabilized. Most consumers are learning that the issues with vapes stemmed from products purchased outside the regulated channels.
A report from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) stated, “In addition, the report from Illinois and Wisconsin showed that nearly all THC-containing products reported were packaged, prefilled cartridges that were primarily acquired from informal sources such as friends, family members, illicit dealers, or off the street.”
It seems illicit market and unregulated vape producers were using thickening agents like Vitamin E with disastrous results. The industry, in general, has suggested that regulation will solve this issue and many are trying to convince the consumer that they can trust a regulated brand.
“The widely publicized public health issue relating to the use of liquid vapes is something that SLANG takes extremely seriously,” said SLANG Worldwide (OTC: SLGWF) CEO Peter Miller. “We encourage investigation and research into the causes of this issue and hope that our collective understanding of the results leads to more thorough and effective regulation of the industry.”
SLANG said it is not aware of any of its products being identified as a contributor to any of the recent illnesses associated with vaping technology. SLANG is not currently operating in Massachusetts and had postponed plans to enter that state. It doesn’t expect to be adversely impacted by Massachusetts’ temporary ban on vaping products.
1933 Industries (CSE: TGIF) (OTCQX: TGIFF) said, “All our branded THC and CBD vape products do not contain vitamin E acetate, vegetable glycerin, or propylene glycol. All our products are made with ingredients that are known to be safe for consumers. All packaging contains our product ingredients, which are also listed on our website. Each and every product is third-party lab tested, and the results can be tracked via a QR code.”
Testing Boom
Of course, in order to be sure testing is the best way to go and this crisis could present an opportunity for the lab group to capitalize. CannaSafe, California’s leading accredited cannabis testing laboratory said it will expand contaminant testing to Vitamin E additives, in response to ongoing concerns around consumer vaping safety. CannaSafe is the first laboratory to offer this service and will also provide testing for additional additives including medium-chain triglycerides, vegetable glycerin, and propylene glycol in the coming weeks.
“Trusted cannabis companies are taking it upon themselves to impose high-quality standards on consumer products, and we are ready to work with any business that wants to show customers that their products are free of toxic additives,” said Aaron Riley, CEO of CannaSafe. “We also urge brands and retailers to share test results with their customers as a gesture of good faith.”
Modern wellness company, dosist, is the first brand to voluntarily undergo Vitamin E testing with CannaSafe. Other brands that will utilize Cannasafe’s testing technology include Orchid Essentials, Select, Heavy Hitters, Stiiizy, King Pen, Lowell Herb Co., Pure Vape, Tikun, and Raw Garden. The Vitamin E test is available to brands and manufacturers across the state for an additional $225.
William Sumner
Anne-Marie Fischer
