First and foremost, real vape cartridges contain high-quality concentrate oil with a THC Tetrahydrocannabinol is one of at least 113 cannabinoids identified in cannabis. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. With chemical name-trans-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol, the term THC also refers to cannabinoid isomers.Tetrahydrocannabinol
How do you tell if a vape cartridge is real?
If you have a vape cartridge that you suspect might be counterfeit, go to the manufacturer's website and compare your cartridge with legitimate products. There could be a serial number, QR code, or certain stylistic differences that will help you decipher whether you have a real cartridge.
How to avoid the counterfeit vape cartridge epidemic?
In legal states and provinces, the best way to thwart the counterfeit vape cartridge epidemic is to purchase products from reputable retailers or dispensaries. Unfortunately, this isn't a viable option for cannabis consumers living in areas where recreational cannabis is still illegal.
Can vape cartridges be regulated as hazardous?
As the FDA continues to grapple with how to properly regulate e-cigarettes and vape pens, it's up to vape cartridge manufacturers and testing labs to catch potentially hazardous products.
Are vape carts bad for You?
The most prevalent problem on the illegal vape market are concentrate cartridges that contain high levels of pesticides. When consumed at concentrated levels, inhaled pesticides cause health problems.
How can you tell if a cartridge is real?
Top 6 Ways to Identify Fake CartridgesPurchase from licensed vendors & trusted brands. ... Know your brands. ... Compare & confirm packaging details. ... Beware of fake copycats. ... Check the ingredients. ... Verify regulatory compliance.
What should I look for in a vape cartridge?
The most important element in choosing a vape cartridge is to ensure that you have a compatible battery that works with it. This won't be a problem for disposable vapes, which can simply be used and discarded. But for 510 thread cartridges and device-specific cartridges, a compatible device is a necessity.
Are old vape cartridges safe?
Technically, a vape cartridge will never spoil, but it won't taste very good anymore. It also probably won't produce any effects, so there's no real benefit to puffing on an expired product.
How do I know if my vape cartridge is defective?
Is Your Vape Broken? This Is How To Find OutCartridge not working. The most common fault with vape devices is that the unit itself simply does not work. ... Battery not lasting the usual duration. ... Odd noises. ... App problems. ... Other possible problems.
How do you know if a cart is good quality?
Any THC cartridge that has a burnt flavor, a metal aftertaste, or that makes you cringe is a good sign that the cartridge is counterfeit. These “off-flavors” should not be present and may indicate that it has contaminants or other additives that are causing a bad reaction when heated up into vapor.
When should you stop smoking vape cartridges?
There are a few surefire signs that a vape cartridge is legitimately empty, not just clogged or in need of a new battery. Some examples include: The vapor your cartridge produces is now hot and smoky. Your cartridge becomes quite hot when the battery is activated.
How long does a vape last in your lungs?
“In the first 20 minutes: your blood pressure and heart rate recover from the nicotine-induced spikes. After 12 hours: the carbon monoxide levels in your blood return to normal. After two weeks: your circulation and lung function begin to improve.
Are carts from dispensaries safe?
The safest marijuana carts are the ones that come with scientific data to verify their safety. The best place to buy tested vape pens and carts is from licensed marijuana dispensaries. Avoid using carts that contain Vitamin E Acetate, Polyethylene Glycol PEG, Propylene Glycol PG or Vegetable Glycerine VG.
What color should oil cartridges be?
3 Ways to Tell If A Vape Cartridge Is Bad The oil in the cartridge should be as clear and viscous as when you bought it; uniformly light yellow to amber in color and fairly transparent. If the liquid is discolored or has turned brown, the cartridge should be thrown away.
Can you still hit a broken cart?
Can you dab a broken cart? If by “broken cart” you're referring to a vape cartridge with a broken glass wall, then the answer is absolutely “no” if you don't want to inhale any of the hemp or cannabis concentrate it still contains into your lungs.
What is a dud cartridge?
A dud (also a misfire or failure to fire) occurs when the trigger is pulled but the primer or powder in the cartridge malfunctions, causing the firearm not to discharge. Dud rounds can still be dangerous and should be deactivated and disposed of properly.
Why do cartridges clog?
Condensation Buildup The most common cause of a clogged cart is condensation buildup inside the cart's airway. Over time, this condensation can block the mouthpiece, preventing vapor from passing through as you take a hit.
How to tell if a vape oil is compatible with a cartridge?
Most vape oil producers will tell you which voltage is compatible with the selected cartridge. These devices come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Some vape pens have a button that activates the vape cartridge, while others are buttonless and only activated once the user takes a draw.
What to do if your vape cartridge is counterfeit?
If you have a vape cartridge that you suspect might be counterfeit, go to the manufacturer's website and compare your cartridge with legitimate products.
What happens to cannabis terpenes during distillation?
All of that is stripped away during the distillation process. Some cannabis oil producers will collect the cannabis-derived terpenes during the process and reintroduce them into the oil, allowing the distillate-filled cartridge to be strain-specific.
How does a cannabis atomizer work?
The atomizer is activated when contact is initiated with the battery, heating up the chamber and vaporizing the cannabis oil. The chamber of a vape cartridge is filled with a THC- or cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant concentrate, and some producers will reintroduce terpenes that had been removed from the distillation process.
What is a vape cartridge?
Vape cartridges include a mouthpiece, chamber, and heating element known as an atomizer. The chamber is filled with concentrated amounts of cannabinoids, usually either THC- or CBD-dominant, and terpenes. The atomizer is activated when contact is initiated with the battery, heating up the chamber and vaporizing the cannabis oil.
What is a vape pen?
Vape pens are designed to vaporize cannabis oils and distillates. A vape pen comprises two primary components: a battery and the vape cartridge. The battery consists of the bottom portion of the vape pen, providing power to the heating element, which vaporizes the cannabis oil contained inside the vape cartridge.
What is VG in vape?
Vegetable glycerin (VG): Added to vape liquids to help generate large vape clouds for the user. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labeled these cutting agents as safe for human ingestion, questions remain about what happens when these compounds are inhaled.
Is My Vape Safe?
Many of the illnesses that occurred across the US have been attributed to unsafe chemicals being used in counterfeit vape cartridges being sold illegally online or in other shady markets. The best way to ensure that you are using a safe, quality product is to buy from a licensed cannabis or e-cigarette retailer.
How To Tell If a Vape Cartridge is Counterfeit
As the popularity of vaping has risen across the United States, the amount of knock-off THC products has likewise increased. With millions of Americans searching for cheaper alternatives to the high-prices often found in legal dispensaries, thousands have fallen victim to illegal counterfeiters selling fake products in deceiving packaging.
Are THC Vape Pens Dangerous?
In the middle of 2019, cases of vaping-related illnesses began to be reported across the United States. As of October 16th, the CDC has reported that 1,300 Americans have been diagnosed with lung injuries related to vape products. Most of those individuals reported using some form of THC vape product before the illness occurred.
How to tell if a vape oil is compatible with a cartridge?
Most vape oil producers will tell you which voltage is compatible with the selected cartridge. These devices come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Some vape pens have a button that activates the vape cartridge, while others are buttonless and only activated once the user takes a draw.
What to do if your vape cartridge is counterfeit?
If you have a vape cartridge that you suspect might be counterfeit, go to the manufacturer's website and compare your cartridge with legitimate products.
What is a vape pen?
Vape pens are designed to vaporize cannabis oils and distillates. A vape pen comprises two primary components: a battery and the vape cartridge. The battery consists of the bottom portion of the vape pen, providing power to the heating element, which vaporizes the cannabis oil contained inside the vape cartridge.
What is the binding agent in vape cartridges?
Propylene glycol (PG): a binding agent that is added to cannabis vape cartridges because of its ability to foster even vape draws. Vegetable glycerin (VG): Added to vape liquids to help generate large vape clouds for the user.
What is the chamber of a cannabis atomizer?
The chamber is filled with concentrated amounts of cannabinoids, usually either THC- or CBD-dominant, and terpenes. The atomizer is activated when contact is initiated with the battery, heating up the chamber and vaporizing the cannabis oil.
Where are vape cartridges made?
A large portion of vape cartridge components are produced at metal foundries in China, many of which add small amounts of lead into brass and copper feedstocks to improve the malleability of metals. This includes the heating coil, which heats up the cannabis oil, potentially transferring toxic metals into the consumer's vapors.
How many people died from vaping in New York?
These vapes were identified by the New York State Department of Health as part of 34 cases of severe pulmonary illnesses in the state, among 380 confirmed and probable cases, with six patients dying, throughout the U.S. Health officials are looking into vitamin E acetate and its link to the illnesses.
Buy from legal retailers and dispensaries
Buying legally is the number one way to ensure the safety of your THC vape cartridge. Legal retailers and dispensaries are subject to state regulation and quality control to ensure that no dangerous substances have been added to the cartridge, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Make sure it has the legal seal
Suppose you’ve ever bought a THC cartridge from a legal dispensary in California. In that case, you may have noticed a sticker with a little marijuana leaf and exclamation point, inside a triangle, above a “CA” or some other variation of this symbol, depending on the state.
Research your device
We understand that sometimes it’s just not possible to buy from a legal dispensary. If you’re in a situation where your only choice is to buy on the black market, there are still measures you can take to check the safety of your THC vape. First, you can feel more confident about buying devices in sealed packaging.
You get what you pay for
This is a straightforward tip, and it isn’t the most significant one, but it can be a helpful idea to keep in mind when you’re trying to determine if your vape is safe. If you’re not buying from a legal dispensary, figure out the market value for the kind of device you’re looking to buy before you purchase it.
What additives are dangerous?
Vitamin E Acetate, Propylene Glycol (PG), Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
I also heard that fractionated coconut oil causes lipid pneumonia. Is that true?
No. But first, what is lipid pneumonia? Lipoid pneumonia is a specific form of lung inflammation (pneumonia) that develops when lipids (fat molecules) enter the lungs.
Does temperature matter?
It sure does! A lot of e-cigarettes and elicit vaporizers on the market showcase this giant plume of smoke, which is often what comes to mind when someone thinks of vaping. In reality, the huge cloud of smoke is actually indicative of the oil being heated to a dangerous temperature.
Why vaping?
Given all the misinformation being perpetuated, we understand you may be hesitant to try or continue vaping. Vaporizing provides the “ quickest onset for achieving the benefits of cannabis, with a bioavailability close to double that of oral ingestion ”.
Additional Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns, we’re here to help! Message us on Instagram or email us at [email protected].
Vape Cartridges: What Are the Facts?
Currently, several state and federal agencies are investigating illnesses and deaths linked to vape cartridges. As of early October 2019, vape-related respiratory illnesses have been reported in some 46 states. Deaths have occurred in Illinois, Oregon, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri.
Vape Cartridges: Moving Forward
While the Oregon instances suggest that perhaps black-market cartridges ended up in legitimate packaging, the numbers support our belief that in the vast majority of cases, the safeguards and best practices put in place by dispensaries—such as The Higher Path—to ensure your safety are working.
What is a vape cartridge?
Vape cartridges are small cartridges of concentrated cannabis oil that are used in conjunction with vape pens and other types of batteries. The pen heats up the oil in the cart, forming vapor which you then inhale. Vaping has become increasingly popular with young adults in recent years, but this option may also be a good choice for people who want ...
What are the different types of vape cartridges?
Types of Vape Cartridges: 1 Disposable pens: This type of vaping device is perfect for beginners because there is no assembly and no charging required. These pens are meant to be thrown away once you’ve used up the cartridge. If you’re unsure about vaping and want to try it out, this is a great option for you. 2 Pre-filled cartridges: Perhaps you already have an e-cig or other vaporizer with a 510-thread connection. These cartridges are compatible with many other devices you may already own, or they can be bought at a reasonable price from a reputable vape shop. They’re also rechargeable and can be used repeatedly. 3 Refillable chamber: This type of device is typically for the more advanced cannabis user who may want to combine different strains or one who simply prefers an added degree of control over vape temperature and their serving size. These chambers require regular cleaning to work optimally and can be expensive.
What is a vaping pen?
Disposable pens: This type of vaping device is perfect for beginners because there is no assembly and no charging required. These pens are meant to be thrown away once you’ve used up the cartridge. If you’re unsure about vaping and want to try it out, this is a great option for you.
Can you smoke THC in vapes?
In the case of THC oil vapes, the heated air converts the oil into an aerosol that can be inhaled. The heating element does not come in direct contact with the cannabis concentrate and is not hot enough to cause combustion, which is why vaping may be preferable to smoking for people with respiratory conditions.
Does THC oil smoke?
You may live in a smoke-free apartment or have household members who do not want to be exposed to secondhand smoke. Vaping THC oil does not produce smoke, and the vapor has only a light odor that dissipates quickly. Controlled servings: Pre-filled cartridges are great for finding your sweet spot when it comes to THC.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
Vapes make it especially easy to micro-dose throughout the day. May be safer than smoking: A 2015 study of cannabis users found that “After controlling for other known risk factors, using a vapourizer was associated with fewer reported respiratory symptoms overall relative to other burning techniques.”.
Can you take a light pull from a vaporizer?
Unlike smoking joints or out of glass pieces, you only have to take a light pull from your vaporizer to enjoy its effects, and it won’t keep rolling after you take a puff.
