Do Vape Carts Have Heavy Metals?

Direct Answer

Some vape carts do contain heavy metals, but it is mostly a problem with cheap, low-quality hardware and unregulated products. Poorly made cartridges can leach metals like lead, nickel, and cadmium into the oil, especially as the cart heats up, while lab-tested carts are screened specifically for this. It is a hardware and sourcing problem more than a cannabis problem, which is why a heavy-metals panel on the COA is the thing to look for.

The metal does not come from the plant, it comes from the cartridge. Low-grade components, the heating coil, welds, and solder, can shed traces of lead, nickel, or cadmium into the oil, and higher temperatures accelerate it, so a cheap cart can test worse the more it is used. Independent testing has repeatedly found elevated heavy metals in unregulated and counterfeit carts, while regulated products that undergo metals screening are far less likely to have a problem.

Avoiding it is mostly about hardware and proof. Look for a certificate of analysis that includes a heavy-metals panel, and buy from a regulated source that uses quality cartridge hardware rather than the cheapest available. If a cart has no lab report at all, you have no way to know what the hardware is leaching, which is the same reason counterfeits are risky, covered in how to spot a fake cart. Every TribeTokes cart is screened for heavy metals and the results are published.

  • Degelis Pilla, CEO

    Degelis Pilla, CFA

    CEO and Co-Founder

    Degelis (“Dege,” pronounced “Dayj”) launched TribeTokes in 2017 after identifying a specific problem in the cannabis vaping market: most products were made with cutting agents and additives that had no place in a wellness brand. She built TribeTokes from zero into a multi-million dollar DTC brand with over 100,000 customers, a full cannabinoid product catalog, and a loyal wholesale retail network.

    Degelis is an active member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and a regular voice in both the cannabis and women-in-business spaces. She is a CFA charterholder (Chartered Financial Analyst), and holds her undergraduate business degree from the University of Virginia.
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Related questions

Frequently asked questions

Do Vape Carts Have Heavy Metals?

Some vape carts do contain heavy metals, but it is mostly a problem with cheap, low-quality hardware and unregulated products. Poorly made cartridges can leach metals like lead, nickel, and cadmium into the oil, especially as the cart heats up, while lab-tested carts are screened specifically for this. It is a hardware and sourcing problem more than a cannabis problem, which is why a heavy-metals panel on the COA is the thing to look for.

Can vape carts have lead in them?

Yes, cheap or counterfeit cartridges can leach lead from low-grade hardware into the oil, and it gets worse with heat. Checking the COA's heavy-metals panel confirms a cart is clean.

How do heavy metals get into a vape cart?

From the cartridge hardware, not the cannabis. Coils, welds, and solder in low-quality carts can shed lead, nickel, or cadmium into the oil, especially at high temperatures.

Do cheap carts have more heavy metals?

Generally yes. Unregulated and counterfeit carts using inexpensive hardware are the ones that test high for metals, while regulated, lab-tested carts are screened to catch it.

How do I know my cart is free of heavy metals?

Check the COA for a heavy-metals panel showing results under the allowable limits, and buy from a regulated brand that publishes its testing.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Vaping is not risk-free, and you should not inhale from a burnt, empty, or damaged cartridge. If you have trouble breathing, chest pain, or other serious symptoms after vaping, seek medical care. Buy only third-party lab-tested vapes with a COA, since unregulated or counterfeit carts can contain harmful additives. TribeTokes products are hemp-derived and contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC under the 2018 Farm Bill, and are intended for adults 21 and over. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.