CDC Archives - Green Market Report

Debra BorchardtNovember 8, 2019
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4min019

The Centers for Disease Control updated its website today. The organization said that recent CDC laboratory testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from 29 patients with EVALI submitted to CDC from 10 states found vitamin E acetate in all of the BAL fluid samples.  Vitamin E acetate is used as an additive in the production of e-cigarette, or vaping, products. This is the first time that we have detected a potential chemical of concern in biologic samples from patients with these lung injuries.

As of November 5, 2,051 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and 1 U.S. territory. There have been 39 deaths in 24 states and the District of Columbia.

CDC continues to recommend that people should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers. We will continue to provide updates as more data become available.

The website posted these new findings:

New Laboratory Findings:

  • Analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples (or samples of fluid collected from the lungs) of patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury identified vitamin E acetate, an additive in some THC-containing products.
  • Recent CDC laboratory test results of BAL samples from 29 patients submitted to CDC from 10 states identified vitamin E acetate in all BAL fluid samples. THC was identified in 82% of the samples and nicotine was identified in 62% of the samples.
    • CDC tested for a range of other chemicals that might be found in e-cigarette, or vaping, products, including plant oils, petroleum distillates like mineral oil, MCT oil, and terpenes (which are compounds found in or added to THC products). None of these potential chemicals of concern were detected in the BAL fluid samples tested.
  • This is the first time that we have detected a potential chemical of concern in biologic samples from patients with these lung injuries. These findings provide direct evidence of vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lungs.
  • These findings complement the ongoing work of FDAexternal icon and some state public health laboratories to characterize e-liquid exposures and inform the ongoing multistate outbreak.

The CDC admitted that no one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses to date, and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak. Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation.


Debra BorchardtOctober 2, 2019
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8min00

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.

 


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