The Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made a breakthrough in “Vape Gate” which is the rash of vaping illnesses and deaths across the United States. Vitamin E acetate was an early suspect causing the mysterious lung illnesses affecting 2,051 people and killing 40 and the CDC has confirmed it. They took samples from 29 patients from 10 different states. 27 of the tested patients were sick while two were deceased. The wide range of samples suggests the dangerous substance is showing up as because of widely used shady business practices rather than the result of a few tainted suppliers.
Vitamin E acetate is a common chemical found in skin lotions and vitamin supplements. The FDA has cleared the substance to be swallowed and rubbed into the skin, but inhaling into the lungs creates a completely different issue. The vitamin E acetate isn’t absorbed like the rest of the chemicals in the cannabis oil, so when it cools back down it coats the lungs which severely damages them.
Meanwhile many states are banning flavored vapes for both nicotine and THC products in an effort to make sure less young people contract vaping illnesses. It’s never been shown that “flavored products” are the source of the problem and critics say the bans disproportionately hinder mom and pop vape shops. Most of the sicknesses are linked to illicit THC products, but popular nicotine vape maker Juul stop[ed selling mint pods in light of the vaping controversy. Oregon temporarily put a stay on their vaping ban as it pertains to nicotine in an effort to keep vape shops open. However, flavored THC vapes are still banned. Washington and Oregon’s bans will be reassessed in the next couple of months when more information is available.
