Real vs Fake Vape Pens and Cartridges
- Packaging. Look for signals that a product is fake by inspecting the packaging. If information about the brand’s location, contact or ingredients is absent, consider that a red flag.
- Price. One of the biggest red flags to low-quality and fake vape pens and products is the low price point. ...
- Liquid ingredients. High quality THC vape pens will contain cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes that are fully disclosed and safe to use.
- Vape pen hardware. The key to safe vape pen hardware is making sure the device doesn’t overheat. Again, price is a signal to the quality of a pen.
How to tell if a THC cartridge is real or fake?
Here are some other red flags that will help to differentiate a real THC cartridge from a fake one: If you can taste it, throw it out. 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.
Can you spot a fake or contaminated vape cartridge?
While there are no foolproof methods (even well-regulated markets sometimes have recalls), there are many ways to reduce the risk of consuming a contaminated product. Read on to learn how you can spot a fake or contaminated vape cartridge.
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.
What is in fake THC Vapes?
In fact, fake vape carts went viral for containing vitamin E acetate, a filler used to reduce costs, just a few years ago with coast-to-coast news coverage on the worst-case scenarios from consuming them.
How do you know if your vape is real?
Check Your Efest Product Authenticity Efest provide an anti-counterfeit sticker with a 20-digit authentication code on the cell of each battery and on the box of their chargers. Entering this into their website will tell you if it's genuine and how many times the code has been looked up.
Do fake carts have THC in them?
Aside from ripping people off, the main issue with fake cartridges is one of safety. First and foremost, real vape cartridges contain high-quality concentrate oil with a THC content of over 70% in some cases. These liquids contain terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids, and come from organically grown marijuana or hemp.
How do you tell if a cart is real or fake?
“Most certified carts contain manufacturer stamps,” he says. You can check your favorite cart brands to see if they have a stamp that distinguishes them from fake copycat products. You might also find additional help from brands that add QR codes, which can be scanned for verifying information.
What brands are fake carts?
The Top Ten Vape Brands To Watch Out For…{1} TKO Extracts. TKO was one of the original counterfeits we covered back in May 2019. ... {2} Cookies Carts. Cookies should come as no surprise. ... {3} West Coast Cure. ... {4} Dabwoods. ... {5} Dank. ... {6} 710 Kingpen. ... {7} Brass Knuckles. ... {8} Cali Plug.More items...
What is authentic vape?
Well known for being portable, compact, and light, Buzz Disposable Vape Device leverages cutting edge design with a pre-filled authentic disposable vape. It is a one-time usable product that requires no refilling, charging, and maintenance.
What color should a cart be?
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. Some vape oils, particularly delta 8 THC cartridges, are as clear and colorless as water.
What does vitamin E acetate taste like?
“It had no taste, smell, odor, and blended perfectly. It appeared to be the perfect solution to a health-conscious client base who wanted to stay away from chemicals,” Jones tells Inverse. “No one would have thought that a regulated vitamin that has been vaped for years could have potentially caused these issues.
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 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.
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.
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, ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How many people died from vaping in 2019?
Emily Earlenbaugh September 19, 2019. This year’s alarming wave of vaping-associated pulmonary injury has already made up to 530 people sick and killed as many as six people. If you use disposable vaporizer cartridges, how can you make sure that the one you’re puffing on is safe? This is a fake. Click to enlarge.
Can you detect diluents without a lab?
As Stower points out: “Most of these diluents are tasteless, odorless, and colorless, which makes them almost impossible to detect without lab analysis.”. Taste or smell alone often won’t alert you, but sometimes it will. If something smells or tastes wrong, don’t take the risk.
Can you use Leafly to find dispensaries?
This is already a noted problem in Los Angeles, where unlicensed shops are particularly prevalent. You can also use Leafly’s store finder to locate licensed dispensaries in your area. Leafly only lists licensed stores and dispensaries, while other sites may list illicit market shops.
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.
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.
