How to Tell If You’re Using a Counterfeit Cannabis Vape Cartridge
- The Product Is Too Cheap. ...
- 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. ...
- The Lab Test Doesn’t Check Out. ...
Is it safe to buy a fake vape cart?
People who reside in states where marijuana is illegal face more risk of buying fake vape carts as they don’t have access to legal dispensaries. If you’re lucky enough to live in a state where cannabis is legal, it’s safer to buy all your carts from legitimate dispensaries.
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.
Are vape cartridges made with THC fake?
On the other hand, packages that have an extraordinarily high percentage of THC are also fake cartridges and should be treated as such. When in doubt, look for those vape cartridges from companies who conduct third party, independent testing on all of the ingredients that are going into their carts.
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.
How can you tell if a vape cart 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 is the difference between fake and real carts?
Real carts will be thick in consistency and slow moving. Most fake carts, due to the additives will be thinner, faster moving and may contain bubbles too.
How do you tell if you have a fake dank cart?
Remember the easiest way to spot a fake Dank Vapes cart is to look for new packaging. If it's the old, non-black style, most likely it is fake.
What happens if you smoke a fake cartridge?
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 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.
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.
Do dispensaries sell fake carts?
Not available in legal dispensaries only street dealers sell them. That should be a clear fake brand/cart sign.
Are dank carts legit?
For the sake of this article, we'll describe the OG Dank Vapes carts as the “original” and the knock-offs as “fakes” — but let's be clear: they are all unlicensed and “fake” products that are sold illegally.
Does cookies make full gram carts 2021?
Keep in mind that the real Cookies brand only sells half gram carts, so if you see a full gram cart it is fake.
Do fake carts still hit?
After a few months of testing, only around 1 in 200 cartridges fail. It is great that there is rigorous testing in place, but as you can guess, fake cartridges have no such hoops to jump through. If you end up with a fake cartridge, it could contain practically anything.
What does a fake cart mean?
They are sold as empty carts for a few pennies each on international online market sites such as DHGate and Alibaba. Anybody can buy them and fill them with whatever. View our list for top brands of fake cartridges. , but note that some of those are counterfeits of legit companies.
Do carts smell?
Vape carts have a very faint smell that dissipates quickly, making them a discreet option for inhaling cannabis. Dry herb vapes have a stronger odor that can linger in a room for about 30 minutes, but is easier to mask than smoking. And unlike smoking, vaping does not typically cling to clothing and skin.
What are the symptoms of flavored e-cigarettes?
Hospitalized patients — many of them young and healthy — have reported difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and coughing up blood. In response, President Donald Trump announced that he is working to finalize a ban on flavored e-cigarettes.
Is Kingpen a knock off?
Probably not. Kingpen isn’t the only brand name with knock-offs on the market. Connected Cannabis Co., Heavy Hitters, West Coast Carts, Mario Carts, TKO, Bulletproof Vapes and Brass Knuckles have taken huge hits courtesy of black market conmen and counterfeiters.
Is Dank Vapes a cannabis company?
However, Mark Hoashi, founder of the Doja app, told Inverse that Dank Vapes is not a cannabis company that operates as an actual facility, but a packaging company. “These are people just filling cartridges as ‘Dank Vapes,’” he said. “It’s just people in their garages filling them and selling them.”.
What happens if you use a counterfeit cartridge?
The best thing that can happen to you if you use a counterfeit cartridge is getting some low-quality cannabis oil, but it’s clear that some of these counterfeit cartridges are not using oils that are safe for use thus putting the people that use these products at risk.
Why are street carts cheaper?
There’s a simple explanation of why street carts are a lot cheaper: Their THC is not as high as advertised, and they don’t go through any lab test to ensure they are safe for human consumption. Let’s get one thing straight: The only way to know you have a clean cartridge is to purchase it from a LEGAL dispensary.
Is it legal to use fake vape cartridges?
Knowledge Vape Carts cartridges. Fake Carts are gaining a lot of popularity, especially in states where cannabis is not legal yet. If you’re familiar with the topic, you know that these fake carts can be dangerous for your health – this is a fact. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) did announce that it was aware ...
Is vaping cartridges toxic?
Toxins in your vape cartridge can be hazardous and can pose a major risk to your long term health. People that are concerned with what they are consuming went and tested the cartridges themselves, and many results show that black-market cartridges contain various dangerous and toxic chemical such as pesticides.
Health Risks of Vape Cartridges
Generally, human lives and our environment are exposed to real dangers whenever adulterated and counterfeit products hit the supply chain. This is usually because of the harmful compounds and substandard materials they are made with.
Fake Cartridges and the Black Market
The black market is constantly flooded with fake carts and fake counterfeit vapes and the lack of regulation seems to worsen the situation. Funny enough, these counterfeit cartridges are designed and well packaged that most consumers would hardly be able to differentiate them from the authentic ones.
How to Make Sure You Get Real Stuff
The best way to ensure that you get the real stuff when buying vape cartridges is to be very cautious. Always look for pointers mentioned in this guide whenever you want to make a purchase. Most importantly, buying from the black market is not safe because you face a higher risk of getting fake vape cartridges.
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.
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 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.
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.
What is leaking from e-cigarettes?
In a 2018 study conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, researchers discovered that unsafe amounts of toxic metals, including lead, were leaking from the heating coils of e-cigarettes and seeping into the aerosol that was inhaled.
Ensure that the license is authentic and it exists
The first rule for ensuring that a vape cartridge is genuine is to check for a permit. The manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers should have rights, so it is probably fake if it is too difficult to verify its approval.
Always check the vape cartridge packaging
The packaging will always reveal itself; if it looks fishy, it is definitely fishy! The original vape labels will always have the following: A batch number, a packaging date, manufacturing date, manufacturer’s location, and many numbers.
Avoid fake copycats
There are lots of fraudulent vape cartridges manufactured by fictitious brands containing toxic products. These fake products are adaptations of famous brands with websites selling pack cartridges in 100s.
Read about the ingredients
Many vape tanks contain diluents like propylene glycol, medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil, and vegetable glycerin. These oils are added to give the cannabis extracts a liquid consistency so you can easily vape.
Know the brands
This is not a good time to experiment with new brands; you are safer with a known and established brand with a record of producing healthy cartridges. All major brands will most likely be licensed, so start by looking for the brands that have existed for many years.
Check lab results
All licensed brands provide and publish test results so retailers can understand the scientific process involved with creating the cartridges. So always ask your budtender for the product’s certificate of analysis (COA) before purchasing the item.
Trust your instincts about a product
Lastly, when you go shopping for vape cartridges, if you feel like something is not right about the product, please go with your instincts. If you have already bought it and you’re already using it, stop using it immediately.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What does it mean when a product fails to have a license number?
A product that fails to have a license number is a product that is not part of the legal market. If a cartridge lacks this proof of quality, toss it. Valid THC products are also required to publicly print their products lab results online specifically for proof of authenticity. If your product does not have information about their lab results, ...
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.
