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5 Tips For Buying Quality Cannabis & CBD Oil

5 Tips For Buying Quality Cannabis & CBD Oil For Your Vape Pen

Are cannabis oils and CBD oils safe to vape? If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you know that vaping is currently getting a lot of bad press. With around 450 cases of lung disease and six deaths across the country, vaping seems to be a common denominator. 

However, according to health officials at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, they haven’t found a clear connection or cause to link the cases, although vaping is clearly playing a role. 

There’s talk of added chemicals, fillers, misuse, fake cartridges, and an underground market of unregulated oils. And, while health professionals are still testing the products that caused the illnesses, no one can say for sure. 

If you’re a vaping enthusiast, the times can be a little unsettling. However, it doesn’t mean that you have to give up your vape all together. If you know what to look for, and how to choose quality cannabis or CBD oil, you can guard yourself against some of the dangers that officials have been warning about. 

Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when purchasing cannabis oil or CBD oil for your vape pen: 

1. Avoid Vape Oil Brands With a Bad Reputation 

Illicit vape oil brands should be avoided at all costs. According to an article in Bloomberg, 24 of 41 patients suffering from vape-related lung injuries were using THC products that were sold using the Dank Vapes label. Officials in the county of Hanford released a photo of the brand that one patient was using before becoming ill called West Coast Carts. While this alone is not enough to avoid all counterfeit vape cartridges, it’s a good starting point so you know which brands to stay away from. A little bit of googling can help you identify other brands with bad reputations.

2. Avoid Buying Oil From The Illicit Market

If you live in a legal state, make sure to always buy your THC oil and CBD vape oil from a verified dispensary. Legal states have regulated markets where it’s mandatory to do lab testing on vape carts, and manufacturers are required to include those test results on the labels. However, doing your due diligence is always recommended, even when buying vape oil legally.  While many legal companies say that they don’t use harmful cutting agents in their products, there may be companies that try to cut corners by diluting oils with chemicals that can be harmful when heated.

If you’re living in a state where you don’t have access to legal CBD or THC oil vape cartridges, things can get a little murky. Black market producers can sell their products online or in pop-up markets, touting them as the real thing. They’ll typically have professional-looking branding, packaging, and often feature labels that say they’re lab tested.These vape carts are particularly dangerous because there’s no way to know what’s in them.

According to an article by USA Today, there were 32 cases of vaping-related illnesses reported in New York state, with a “vast majority” of them involving people who vape illicit marijuana. If you are buying from the black market, you can check out websites like DabConnection.com, Leafly.com or Instagram accounts like Cleanmedz, which provide up-to-date information on dangerous vaping products that have been discovered.

3. Learn How to Spot Counterfeit Oils

Counterfeit THC oils are becoming a massive problem. Even large brands like Heavy Hitters, Connected Cannabis Co., and Kingpen have fell victim to counterfeit versions of their products on the market. Since these fake products are made using similar branding, packaging, and logos, it can be hard to know the difference. Using these fake oils in your vape pen can be detrimental as they aren’t regulated or tested, and are often cut with dangerous fillers. If a cartridge is priced significantly below the market price, it could be a sign that it’s fake.

They also suggest checking the serial number and QR code to make sure it’s the real thing.  You can also do a quick Google search to find resources that can help you tell a real cartridge from a fake. 

4. Choose Oil That Does Not Contain Vitamin E Acetate

According to New York health officials, nearly all of the cannabis vaping products that were analyzed in the investigation of these illnesses contained large amounts of the chemical, vitamin E acetate. Vitamin E is showing up in vape oils, especially those on the black market, as a thickener so that diluted vape oils won’t look watery, a red flag that it’s cut with something. While this vitamin is typically okay to take as a pill or use on the skin, it can trigger pneumonia when inhaled. 

5. Check Labels & Lab Test Results

When buying THC oil and CBD oil carts, always check the labels. Legal vape oils are typically required to display lab test results so you can make an informed decision about what you’re vaping. Check to make sure the cannabis used to make the oil was grown without dangerous pesticides. You’ll also want to stay away from non-cannabis additives and flavors. Check labels for anything listed as “non-cannabis derived terpenes, natural or artificial flavors.” Now, some dispensaries like Kind Leaf, are identifying products on their shelves with these additives, and thinking twice about carrying them. 

Keep in mind that cutting agents like polyethylene glycol (PEG,) propylene glycol (PG,) and vegetable glycerine (VG) are commonly used in vape oils to keep the mixture consistent, help with draw, and create a larger cloud. While the Food and Drug Administration has said these cutting agents are safe for humans to ingest, there have been studies published that say they could actually be quite dangerous when inhaled. There is now a rising number of cannabis oil producers who are insisting on not using any cutting agents in their products. So, if you’re worried about these additives, you may want to shop for oils without them. 

If you arm yourself with this information, buying quality vape oils can be far  less intimidating. Keep in mind that your vape pen matters too. Devices that heat oil at too high of a temperature can be potentially dangerous. Heating oil at high temperatures can release noxious gases that can be bad for your health. Vape pens like Vessel work on a lower power spectrum to make vaping even safer. 

Always buy from a legal dispensary, read the label to better understand what you’re getting, and ask questions, both online, and in-store, to make sure you feel comfortable with your purchase. Stay safe!

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