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Tag: vaping lung illness

  • Marijuana Vaping Busts Skyrocket

    Marijuana Vaping Busts Skyrocket

    Over the past two years more than 510,000 marijuana vaping cartridges have been seized by authorities across the nation.

    The recent wave of vaping illnesses and deaths has pushed authorities to crack down on illegal vaping cartridges, cranking the number of seizures of illegal marijuana vaping products through the roof in 2019.  

    According to the Associated Press, over the past two years more than 510,000 marijuana vaping cartridges have been seized by authorities across the nation. More than 120 people have been arrested in connection with the products. 

    Big Busts In 2019

    In November a 30-year-old Minnesota man was caught speeding in Nebraska and police wound up searching his vehicle after “detecting the presence of a controlled substance.” Inside the vehicle, they found 386 containers of THC wax, 144 packages of THC shatter, 62 THC vape cartridges, 39 containers of THC edibles and liquid products, and four pounds of marijuana. 

    Nealry 1,000 pounds of marijuana and 2,000 vaping cartridges were seized during a routine traffic stop in North Texas in late November. The drugs were on their way to North Carolina. 

    In October, a tip from a concerned anonymous source, led Wisconsin authorities seize more than 10,000 vaping cartridges, 18 pounds of marijuana and $950k. 

    North Phoenix authorities had their own massive bust in September when they were able to seize $380,000 worth of drugs including THC vaping cartridges while serving a warrant. 

    Daniel Ray Hawkins and Benjamin Blake Lumpkin were arrested in North Carolina. They stand accused of running a DMT lab (DMT AKA dimethyltryptamin is a powerful hallucinogenic drug) and putting DMT into marijuana vape pens. The DMT found inside the house was worth an estimated $4 million. 

    “The solution to decreasing the risk associated with THC vapor products lies in continuing towards a legalized and regulated market, not increased criminalization and arrests,” said NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri.

    Vaping Illnesses

    While busts appear to be ramping up as vaping illnesses and deaths continue to rise on a daily basis. As of November 21, the CDC’s Latest Outbreak Information for e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injuries (EVALI) reports that there are now 2,290 cases of EVALI and 47 deaths linked to the illness. Alaska, which was the only state unaffected by vaping illnesses, reported their first case on Tuesday. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Skepticism Over E-Cigarettes Growing Rapidly

    Skepticism Over E-Cigarettes Growing Rapidly

    In the midst of a mysterious wave of vaping-related illnesses, public concern over vaping is at an all-time high. 

    Concern over vaping, which is the use of battery-powered e-cigarettes, has been growing recently as more and more respiratory issues are being connected to the devices. 

    According to Bloomberg, vaping is “a way to ingest nicotine, the addictive alkaloid present in tobacco, without the smoke and tar that comes from burning tobacco.” Vaping devices use a battery to heat a liquid containing nicotine, and the user then inhales the vapor that is produced. 

    Some devices, such as the Juul, have received much attention for their compact and appealing design, as well as flavors. Juul has been repeatedly accused of marketing their flavored vaping products to a young audience.

    “The effects on humans of nicotine are not well-studied, although adolescents appear to be particularly vulnerable to it, with some evidence suggesting it can harm brain development,” Bloomberg reports. “A report by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences said there was substantial evidence that young vapers are more likely than nonvapers to try regular cigarettes.”

    Traditional Cigarettes Vs E-Cigarettes

    Another debate surrounding the devices is whether they are actually better for your health than smoking cigarettes. Early on, the devices were marketed as cigarette alternatives that could help smokers quit and replace the habit with something considered less harmful at the time. 

    But recently, a wave of vaping-related illnesses has led to multiple deaths and hundreds of other health issues for vapers across the U.S. 

    “Doctors have seen hundreds of cases where patients—often youthful, previously healthy adults—have shown up in the emergency room, suddenly stricken with dangerous respiratory damage,” Bloomberg notes. 

    In November 2018, the Food and Drug Administration took action to limit most sales of flavored e-cigarettes to only vaping stores and online retailers. 

    Flavor Ban

    And more recently, the Trump administration has come forward with the intention to remove flavored vaping products from the market.

    “Now, on the direction of President Donald Trump, the FDA plans to issue regulatory guidance that will force the removal from the market of all vaping products that taste like anything other than tobacco,” Bloomberg states. “Sales could resume only with FDA approval.”

    The e-cigarette industry itself has also taken steps in this direction. In 2018, Juul announced that it had stopped stocking stores with appealing flavors like mango, fruit, creme and cucumber, and instead provided only tobacco, menthol and mint flavors. The company planned to continue selling the fruity flavors on its website, but said it would be taking steps to ensure buyers were 21 or older. 

    Major e-cigarette retailers Altria, Reynolds and Juul Labs have also expressed support in raising the legal tobacco buying age from 18 to 21. 

    View the original article at thefix.com