How We All Can Help Avoid Another Vape Crisis

In 2019, we saw an alarming number of people hospitalized for vaping-related injuries to the lungs. Some e-cigs exploded, and some vaporizer consumers even experienced seizures. Here’s how this can be avoided.

Throughout 2019, there were 54 confirmed cases of death, and an alarming 2,600+ people were sent to the hospital for vaped-related injuries. Vapes were exploding due to faulty and cheaply made products, many of which came from China. The coronavirus has caused a rift in the supply chain of products coming in from China, and so have tariffs placed on products made there.

As 2019 drew to a close, we found out that the cause of most of these deaths is a dirty THC additive called Vitamin E Acetate. As you probably were able to guess, the THC additive came almost exclusively from illicit vapes. There are other nasty additives responsible for vape-related injuries, but Vitamin E Acetate is the main one, according to the CDC.

First and foremost, companies are responsible for the products they produce. If they aren’t clean, it’s our responsibility as consumers to speak out and use every platform we have in order to inform the cannabis community about these bad actors. As responsible, healthy consumers, we want to know where the products come from, exactly what’s in them - right along down the supply chain and ending up in your hands. We aren’t quite there yet, but as the cannabis industry evolves, product transparency and testing evolve right along with it.

Increasing Awareness of Product Testing

With so much misinformation and confusion out there, it can be tough for some newer cannabis consumers to understand exactly what to believe. HashDash takes pride in the fact that we are distilling this information down to you as an informed consumer. We are developing a platform that will be your go-to guide for product information and cannabis education. We’re distilling this information down via extensive research and science-based information as well as we can tell right now. The vape crisis rightfully caused many consumers to become highly concerned about the products they were buying, which in turn caused even more updates to product testing. However, this all could have been avoided if more consumers refused to purchase dirty products in the first place.

"With so much misinformation and confusion out there, it can be tough for some newer cannabis consumers to understand exactly what to believe."

Tech Innovations Provide Product Testing

As is the case with many areas of our modern lives, tech companies have been stepping up in a big way in order to help consumers know that what they are buying is safe. According to MJ Biz Daily, these tech-based solutions start with certificates of analysis and complete testing results that a cannabis consumer can access directly on their smartphones. Your smartphone can also determine proper dosing via QR codes. But perhaps the biggest way tech is helping avoid a vape crisis is that they started encrypting vape cartridges in order to weed out counterfeit ones that can potentially cause injuries. And as we previously mentioned, the majority of these vape-related injuries were caused by products sold by shady companies illicitly - which brings us to our next point.

States With Legal Cannabis Help Avoid Another Vape Crisis

In a study that is likely not much of a surprise to any informed cannabis consumer, states with legal recreational cannabis had fewer reported cases of vape-related illnesses. This study, published in the Journals of the American Medical Association Network only further solidified the fact that the black market is mostly responsible for the vape crisis. In fact, cases of vape-related lung injuries were among the lowest in these legal states.

Consumers should be able to trust dispensaries and retail locations that are licensed. This is only the tip of the iceberg, however. As responsible cannabis consumers, we have a duty to both share this information far and wide and speak out against it. This is how we avoid another vape crisis. As the cannabis industry evolves, we’ll see more of this - but only if we demand it.

Disclaimer:

The content on this page is provided by HashDash for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat any medical condition or ailment on your own. Always consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about treatment. The information and products mentioned herein have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition.

HashDash is Here to Help

HashDash is a growing resource for all of your cannabis education. We are committed to avoiding another vape crisis. Knowledge is power, and we are using data-driven information just like what’s found here in this article to provide such knowledge. We are unbiased and transparent because we are passionate about the healing power of cannabis. Be sure to sign up for HashDash to discover your cannabis matches.