How to Tell If You’re Using a Counterfeit Cannabis Vape Cartridge
- The Product Is Too Cheap. Many black market THC vape cartridges sell for around $20 — which isn’t nearly as much as they’re supposed to cost.
- Its THC Content Is Too Low (or Too High) Samantha Miller, chief science officer and founder of cannabis testing lab Pure Analytics, told Leafly that users should be on the ...
- It’s a “Legal” Product in a State Where Cannabis Is Illegal. ...
- You Can Buy the Brand’s Packaging Online. Though Amazon has now removed empty branded vape cartridges from its site, that doesn’t mean they’ve disappeared from the internet.
- The Lab Test Doesn’t Check Out. Most legal producers of THC vape cartridges send their products to be tested for purity and potency by independent third-party laboratories, which then provide ...
Are THC vape cartridges fake?
But be aware – some fake THC cartridges have been designed to look like legit THC brands and cartridges. To help, check out a few of the well-known fake THC vape cart brands and common counterfeits to avoid, below-
How are THC vape cartridges tested?
Most legal producers of THC vape cartridges send their products to be tested for purity and potency by independent third-party laboratories, which then provide a certificate of analysis (COA) to confirm the product is safe and effective.
What states are cracking down on fake THC vape products?
And recent crackdowns in Wisconsin and Minnesota, both early centers of the vaping illness epidemic, netted hauls of 31,000 and 77,000 counterfeit THC vape cartridges, respectively. Some businesses are also doing their part to prevent the spread of fake THC vape products, though their efforts to date have been scattershot.
How much do black market THC vape cartridges cost?
Many black market THC vape cartridges sell for around $20 — which isn’t nearly as much as they’re supposed to cost. In Los Angeles, for example, the going rate for a half-gram cannabis vape cartridge is $45, including nearly $13 in tax. If you’re paying much less than that, you’re likely getting a bootleg product.
Do fake carts have THC in them?
Today, experts are investigating vitamin E acetate as a possible cause for many vaping illnesses and deaths. Also, be aware that real vape carts typically contain THC levels of 70-90%. Anything lower than 60% has likely been cut with some type of agent, and anything above 99% would be considered suspect, too.
What THC carts are legit?
Top 3 Brands of THC Vape Carts on the MarketExhale Wellness: Best & Strongest Overall.BudPop: Most Potent.Delta EXTRAX: Wide Variety of Flavors.
What are fake THC carts made of?
Real THC cartridges are made with extracted cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids from all-natural marijuana plants. To mimic the real taste, or effects of quality made and pure THC cartridges – fake THC cartridge manufacturers are using whatever they can, no matter how dangerous.
How can you tell a fake vape?
How can you tell if a vape is real or fake?Notice if the vape emits any chemical smells. ... Confirm if the battery-life is congruent with the advertised battery-life outlined by the manufacturer. ... Check if your vaporizer has a serial number, and email the manufacturer to verify whether it is the real serial number.
What does a fake cart taste like?
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.
Is a cart fake if the bubble moves?
If the liquid moves very quickly, it is probably a fake. This is also the case if there is a bubble that moves to the top when you turn the cartridge upside down. In genuine cartridges, the bubble will remain still. Fourthly, if the vape cartridge seems incredibly cheap and too good to be true, it absolutely is!
What happens if I smoke a fake cart?
Lab testing of Pirzada's patient's cartridge revealed that it tested positive for not just THC, but also vitamin E. If inhaled, oils like Vitamin E can cause lipoid pneumonitis, a rare condition that results from fat particles being inhaled into the lungs, says Pirzada.
What color should a cart be?
Cartridge discoloration affects all cannabis and hemp by-products. Not only THC vapes, but CBD and delta 8 vapes, can also become discolored. In most cases, the best color for cartridge oil is a transparent hue of light yellow or amber color, close to the shades of lemonade to honey.
How can you tell if distillate is real?
High quality distillate should be fully translucent and not cloudy in any way. If you can look through your distillate and clearly see what's on the other side, then it's usually safe to say you are dealing with a product that has minimal lipids, waxes or impurities.
Are counterfeit Vapes safe?
Fake Vapes tend to Overheat and Generate Harmful Toxins. While these batteries are safe if handled properly, these could also be dangerous if mishandled.
What is a fake THC cartridge?
What Are Fake THC Cartridges? Simply put, fake THC cartridges are distilled oils disguised as pure forms of THC that have avoided the legal markets. Or basically, fake THC cartridges that are sold on the black market – similar to fake luxury purses or goods. But, these fake goods can come with an unhealthy cost.
How to know if a THC cartridge is real?
First things first - check the packaging. Most real THC cartridges will include a manufacturing date, packaging date, batch or lot number. Ensuring it’s journey through the licensing process to become a ‘real’ THC cartridge for legal sale. Also, check the spelling and grammar used on the label.
What is the name of the fungicide that is found in fake THC cartridges?
In a recent study, NBC news found that 10 out of 10 fake THC cartridge products contained hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide can also be formed from a fungicide that is present in many fake THC cartridges - myclobutanil. This fungicide upon burning, transforms into hydrogen cyanide, too.
What is real THC?
Real THC cartridges are made with extracted cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids from all-natural marijuana plants. To mimic the real taste, or effects of quality made and pure THC cartridges – fake THC cartridge manufacturers are using whatever they can, no matter how dangerous.
Can fake THC cartridges be harmful?
Contaminants, metals and pesticides that are used to make fake THC cartridges are onsetting real and damaging effects.
Is THC oil slow moving?
Avoid sales of fake THC cartridges on web sites like Ebay, Amazon, etc. Upon flipping your cart upside down, Real THC oil in cartridges will be thick and slow-moving. Fake THC oil cartridges are typically filled with fast moving oil.
Can you put a THC logo on a THC label?
Also, check the spelling and grammar used on the label. Often, there are misspellings or grammatical errors found on many fake THC cartridges packaging. Most states also require a state-licensed icon or logo, ensuring that the THC cartridge has been vetted and approved as a legal retail product. But these logos can be added to any packaging - even ...
What is the CDC warning about e-cigarettes?
In fact, the CDC in 2019 issued a warning to e-cigarette users about an outbreak of lung injuries associated with both fake THC vape products and nicotine products. Nicknamed EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury), this unfortunate outbreak has brought the risks of using unregulated cannabis products to the forefront.
What are counterfeiters selling?
Counterfeiters have been selling fake designer clothing, accessories, and jewelry for decades. Thanks to the internet, the Dark Web, and nefarious websites, it’s easier than ever to find impostor products, and reputable vaping and cannabis brands are no stranger to these crimes.
Is cannabis oil thick or thin?
Also, quality cannabis oils tend to be thick with a strong, clear gold color; avoid oils that appear to be watery thin, artificially colored, or very dark. Propylene glycol is a preservative that’s FDA approved for foods and other products; however, it’s known to cause headaches and other symptoms when inhaled.
Does a vape cart have THC?
Any legal vape cart sold at a dispensary is required to have a label showing the total amount of THC. Some dispensaries also provide total terpenes, cannabinoids, as well as a statement letting consumers know that no Vitamin E acetate was found.
How many fake THC cartridges were seized?
A week later, police in Georgia seized over 2,000 fake THC vape cartridges. And recent crackdowns in Wisconsin and Minnesota, both early centers of the vaping illness epidemic, netted hauls of 31,000 and 77,000 counterfeit THC vape cartridges, respectively.
What is the potency of a THC vape cartridge?
While many legitimate THC vape cartridges do contain extremely high levels of THC — it’s not uncommon to find products with 80 or even 90 percent THC — if you encounter a vape cartridge that touts a 99 percent potency level, you should probably steer clear of it.
What is the THC level in cannabis?
Samantha Miller, chief science officer and founder of cannabis testing lab Pure Analytics, told Leafly that users should be on the watch for products whose THC content is marked below 60 percent, as anything under that mark is likely cut with a potentially dangerous substance.
What is a COA in vaping?
Most legal producers of THC vape cartridges send their products to be tested for purity and potency by independent third-party laboratories, which then provide a certificate of analysis (COA) to confirm the product is safe and effective. However, COAs have also been co-opted by some counterfeiters, who use photoshopped (or even entirely fraudulent) lab results to lure consumers into a false sense of security.
When did counterfeit THC vapes come out?
Image Credit: By 420MediaCo on shutterstock. Ever since the first vape devices hit the American market in 2006, counterfeit THC vape products have been a cause for concern among government authorities, legal cannabis businesses, and consumers alike.
How to tell if a lab test is legitimate?
To determine if a product’s lab test is legitimate, the first step is to check if the lab even exists (a quick Google search should do the job). If you’re still suspicious, it’s worth contacting the lab and providing detailed information about your product, like its brand, batch number, and manufacturing date.
Is cannabis expensive?
Cannabis dispensaries are well-known for being expensive, and many consumers have complained about their inflated costs for products like THC vape cartridges. However, in this case the extra money is a small price to pay for avoiding a serious lung illness.
Steer Clear of Black Market Cannabis Vape Cartridges
Is it more expensive to buy your goods from a licensed dispensary? Of course.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Fake Brand Packages
The cannabis black market encourages imposters. They swoop in and sell bootleg vape cartridges. Even if you’re shopping in a regulated market, there could be phony carts. This is why you should check the packaging of your products to ensure they’re legitimate.
Check the Ingredients
Vape carts can contain diluents. These can include propylene glycol, medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil, vegetable glycerin, and more.
Stick to the Brands You Trust
If you have brands you’ve been using for a while, stick with them. Experimenting with random vape pens is risky in an unregulated market.
Closing Thoughts
As you shop vape cartridges, keep these tips in mind. Don't make the mistake of purchasing your products from an unreputable seller. You could get sick.
What does it mean when a THC cartridge is counterfeit?
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.
How much does a THC cartridge cost?
THC products are not particularly cheap, so if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Legitimate THC cartridges usually start at around $80 per cartridge, so any cartridge being sold that is significantly less than $80 is usually a huge red flag pointing towards counterfeit.
Why is Vitamin E acetate bad for vaping?
Vitamin E acetate is currently being investigated as one of the prime reasons for vape causing illnesses and deaths. Another ingredient-based clue is if the cartridge contains anything less than 60% THC. Any package that contains less than 60% THC is most likely laced with other harmful ingredients which makes that cartridge harmful and fake.
What is the thickener in vape cartridges?
For example, a thickener called Vitamin E acetate is an ingredient that is predominantly found in fake products as it is cheaper to make, yet results in the same oil consistency that legit cartridges have. Vitamin E acetate is currently being investigated as one of the prime reasons for vape causing illnesses and deaths.
What to look for in THC?
Official THC products will have the following information: One of the biggest things to look for is a packaging icon. These icons are mandatory icons that the state requires each package to have printed on it. If the brand has a QR code printed on the package, use it for further proof.
Is it safe to buy a THC cartridge online?
If you are purchasing a THC cartridge online, then make sure that the company you are buying from is verified. If the company is not a verified brand, then the cartridge has not been approved as a safe product. Be aware of pricing.
Is THC a fake?
It’s been all over the news, making headlines as a growing number of individuals have experienced illness and even death as a result of the THC cartridges that are designed to look legitimate, but are actually fake. These contaminated cartridges are generally bought online and sold for much cheaper than authentic THC cartridges.
Why is cannabis used in vaping?
Because cannabis is used by so many as a tool to find relief, healing, and comfort, it holds a high potential for malicious abuse. More recently, such abuse comes in the form of fake THC cartridges. In fact, the vaping market shows signs of increasing amounts of counterfeit cartridges—not less—and the implications are massive.
What are fake penpens filled with?
The fake pens are many times filled with pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants that the human body does not jive with. None of those things equates to proper, clean, and natural treatment. In June of 2019, California reported a string of hospitalizations related to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or ARDS.
Can a fake Rolex kill you?
The first people to suffer in any illicit and counterfeit market are the consumers. This is true whether the products are jewelry, video games, movies, food, and so on. Marijuana is no different. It may even be worse: while a fake Rolex is an annoyance but still looks passable, a fake THC cartridge can kill you.
Do pop up shops have to test vape pens?
Pop-up shops, the report said, don’t require their products to go through any form of testing, testing that could prevent the sales of contaminated pens. California wasn’t the only state that issued a warning against bad vape pens.
Is vaping a serious illness?
Vaping cannabis (and nicotine) is at an all-time high in popularity, and without further rigorous testing more issues are bound to arise. It’s not only serious illnesses that are becoming more common.
Is marijuana counterfeit?
If someone is selling them in a state where marijuana is not legal, it’s best to assume that they are counterfeit. Further, a good rule of thumb is to compare what a cartridge looks like to photos on a manufacturer’s official social media page or website. If anything looks off, move on.
Do manufacturers have labels on their products?
Manufacturers will have labels on their product. Many—if not all—times, too, lab results are clear and visible. QR codes are becoming common as well, so if the product has one, scan it. It takes a few seconds but can save hours or days in the hospital. If you must purchase your cartridge illegally, take precautions.
What can help to phase out unwanted imitation products?
Thorough regulatory measures can help to phase out unwanted imitation products and the damage they cause. Guadagnino is optimistic that black market products will be subdued by the increasing standardization of the cannabis industry.
Can counterfeit vapes harm the public?
Counterfeit cannabis vapes and other items wreak havoc not only on public health, but also on the public perception of cannabis and its safety. Thorough regulatory measures can help to phase out unwanted imitation products and the damage they cause.
