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.
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 does a a vape pen work?
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. Most vape oil producers will tell you which voltage is compatible with the selected cartridge.
What's in a vape cartridge?
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. (Gina Coleman/Weedmaps)
What happens if you drink oil from a counterfeit vape cartridge?
The potential dangers of consuming oil from a counterfeit vape cartridge are pretty straightforward. For starters, it's nearly impossible to tell what's inside of the oil without getting it lab tested.
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 do fake cartridges contain?
Just recently in December 2019, Los Angeles police raided multiple shops in L.A. The unlicensed dispensaries were trading in the usual fake vape cartridges, which were confiscated and tested. They found that 75% of the vapes contained undisclosed additives, including the thickening agent vitamin E acetate.
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.
Is a cart fake if it bubbles?
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 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.
What is the bubble test for carts?
The bubble test simply requires you to flip your pen upside down and note if the air bubble in the cartridge moves to the top of the cart too quickly. And that's how to know if your medical marijuana vape cartridge has been cut with harmful ingredients. It's that simple.
Are dispensary carts 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 are fake carts cut with?
Vitamin E acetate is a lipid (oil) commonly found in cosmetics, but is used as a cutting agent in cartridges for its color and viscosity, according to the CDC.
Why does my vape cartridge have bubbles?
Essentially, the cartridge reservoir is built to be slightly larger than the volume. The bottom of the cartridge (the metal base) has a chamber that contains the ceramic heating element that vaporizes the oil in the cartridge and begins to absorb the oil right after being filled.
How do I know when a cart is empty?
If you have a cartridge with a transparent viewing window inside, you will be able to see how much oil is left. If it has turned orange inside, then that means the cartridge oil is about to finish up. Also, when the vape cartridge is towards the end, then the smell of the essential oils changes towards a smoky smell.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How to avoid fake vape cartridges?
The easiest way to avoid fake vape cartridges is to only purchase from trusted sources. You can get lab test results from legal vendors, as cannabis producers have to provide them. In those test results, you can see exactly how much THC and other chemicals are present in the cartridge you’re purchasing.
What to do if something feels like it's too good to be true?
You might just feel like something is wrong. That’s okay. Trust that instinct. It’s better you waste a few bucks throwing out a real vape cartridge than it is to take a gamble on a fake one and lose.
Is Leafly a good vape?
Websites like Leafly are incredibly good at listing reliable brands and reviews for those brands. Before you purchase or vape a cartridge, look up the brand and name on Leafly or a similar resource site. There are so many different vaporizer cartridges cataloged on these sites that if yours is legitimate, you’re almost sure to find it.
Can fake vape cartridges kill you?
Worse still, they can make you very sick, or even kill you if you don’t know how to spot them.
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 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 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. Vitamin E acetate: A generally safe additive for food, but it’s been found in thickening agents in illicit THC cartridges ...
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 vape atomizer work?
The atomizer is activated when contact is initiated with the battery, heating up the chamber and vaporizing the cannabis oil. Cannabis vape oils that fill vape cartridges are usually created through a process called distillation, which strips the cannabis molecules down to just the cannabinoids.
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 cutting agent used in vape juice?
Common cutting agents that are sometimes infused with cannabis oil and e-cigarette vape juice include: Polyethylene glycol (PEG): a cutting agent used in vape liquids to keep the product evenly mixed.
