Vaping is the heating up of cannabis oil OR nicotine mixed with propylene glycol (PG) as a base - 2 very common but completely different vaping categories - creating a vapor that you can inhale (similar to how a humidifier works with water). The vape industry went under fire in 2019 following the reports of deaths and lung illness. The cause of sickness was found to be toxic ingredients from illegal products from irresponsible manufacturers.
The vaping drama got even worse as findings show botched lab tests and cheap fillers for legal market products. Even legal dispensaries were taking shortcuts and using fillers from our "never use" list to reduce costs and increase shelf life of products. As a result, consumers are now spending more time researching and reading labels in search of clean vaping utopia - but what does that mean? Clean vaping means that there are no unhealthy filler oils, and no toxic ingredients or residues including heavy metals.
Yes, toxic, heavy metals including “lead” are showing up in lab tests. Labs are reporting that some percentage of vape carts are showing a concerning amount of lead. Specifically, 4 heavy metals that are of particular interest to us when we talk about CBD oils - cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury. That’s because they are not only the ones that we encounter most frequently but they are also extremely toxic and harmful to human health and are being found in CBD oil “vaporizer cartridges” or “vape carts.”
That comes as very bad news to the vaping industry as the Centers for Disease Control has found that there is no safe level of exposure to lead. Exposure to high levels of lead may cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage. Very high lead exposure can cause death. To sum it up - lead in vapes is bad.
Lab testing reveals there’s lead in most vape cartridges. According to industry experts, lead in vape cartridges is a major concern that’s being ignored. In 2019, some studies have estimated that 90 percent of vape cartridges dry test for actionable levels of lead. Cheap metal when heated will release cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury. These are the most common and dangerous heavy metals present in vapes. No bueno!
So, as vaping continues to grow in popularity, how do you know what's the best option for you? There are a few things that consumers can do to significantly reduce or avoid exposure.
First thing is to read all the ingredients. Degelis “Dege” Tufts, CEO and Founder of TribeTokes, believes that first and foremost, consumers must always read the ingredients on vape products. “The simpler the better!” she said. “Consumers should look for (and avoid) thinning agents, fillers or carrier oils such as propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), MCT oil or polyethylene glycol (PEG).”
Second, look at the lab testing. Kymberly “KymB” Byrnes, CMO and Cofounder of TribeTokes states “At TT we add only pure, clean CBD-rich full-spectrum distillate, terpenes and other whole plant extracts to our vapes. If you see a lot of ingredients that you can't pronounce in your vape, then maybe it's not what you think it is.”
Thirdly, buy from trusted sources because not all CBD is created equal. For cannabis vapes, always look for lab results and verify they’re real - anyone can buy a QR code off of the internet and connect it to a Photoshopped PDF of fake lab results. Look for a link to a verifiable third party lab with a solid reputation. When you purchase from a brand, do your research - who is behind the product? Why should you trust them with your lungs?
Be smart, vape wisely, and embrace plant medicine through clean vaping!
