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 A study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine
found that more than half of patients with the lung illness - 24 of
41 - who were extensively interviewed in Wisconsin and Illinois
reported having used the "Dank Vapes" brand.
The New York State Department of Health identified "Dank Vapes" and
"Chronic Carts" as products containing Vitamin E acetate, a
thickening agent in THC oil that has been a key focus in its
investigation into the illnesses. THC is the psychoactive compound
in cannabis.
While Vitamin E acetate is often applied to skin or used as a
dietary supplement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned
against inhalation because "data is limited about its effects" on
the lungs. The agency has advised consumers to avoid vaping THC oils
or using devices bought outside of stores.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is
investigating 380 confirmed or probable cases of lung illnesses tied
to vaping, said the condition has not definitively been linked to a
specific product or ingredient, including Vitamin E acetate.
The CDC advises against using any e-cigarette or vaping products,
since most of the patients interviewed used both THC and nicotine
liquids, while 20 percent used only nicotine.
Leading makers of nicotine e-cigarettes, including Juul Labs Inc,
British American Tobacco Plc <BATS.L> and Imperial Brands Plc <IMB.L>,
said this week their products do not contain Vitamin E compounds or
THC.
AVAILABLE ONLINE
Packaging using the "Dank Vapes" name until recently was available
on Amazon, according to caches of the product links, and a Reuters
review shows they are still widely available elsewhere on the
Internet.
Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O> said it took down vape paraphernalia this
week in line with its policies, though the company did not specify
the exact products it removed. It said THC and e-cigarettes were
not, and are not, offered on its platform.
One merchant that appeared to sell packaging for Dank Vapes and
another brand on Amazon was known as Cart Essentials, according to
the cached links, which are now defunct.
Cart Essentials had 39 ratings this year, almost all of them five
stars. The merchant did not immediately respond to a request for
comment sent via Amazon's platform, and Reuters could not determine
who was behind the company.
WHAT IS IT?
Marijuana extracts used in vaping "pens" have been one of the
fastest-growing segments of the cannabis industry in recent years.
It is an easy way to use the product, can be concealed, and users
can better control how much they take in, said David Downs,
California bureau chief for cannabis website Leafly.com.
The category grew from 2% of the legal market in 2014 to 16% last
year, according to BDS Analytics, an industry tracker.
The "Dank Vapes" brand is an illicit product that uses diluted THC
oil, Downs said.
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Drug dealers, looking to make as much money as possible, cut THC
oil with Vitamin E acetate to dilute it but make it still appear
pure to consumers, Downs said. "It can cut THC oil while keeping it
thick."
It is difficult to determine whether "Dank Vapes" is an actual
company or a brand used by multiple operators. No one responded to
calls and emails sent to numbers and addresses listed on a website,
dankvapes.org.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the state health department
earlier this week to subpoena three companies he said market Vitamin
E acetate to vape oil manufacturers. The three companies are Honey
Cut Labs LLC in Santa Monica, California; Floraplex Terpenes in
Ypsilanti, Michigan; and Mass Terpenes in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Cuomo's office in a statement said the thickeners were being
marketed as a "cheaper, safer alternative that does not negatively
impact flavoring or odor" and "can be used to cut vape products to
any level of THC."
Honey Cut and Mass Terpenes could not be reached for comment.
Floraplex said in a statement it will "work with all appropriate
governmental agencies in a transparent and constructive way," and
continue its "distribution of quality products."
The mass-terpenes.com website had a message to customers saying it
was "alarmed" by reports that Vitamin E acetate had been linked to
serious lung problems and will "cooperate fully" with state and
federal health authorities. It added that the company has taken
steps to ensure the website has no products containing Vitamin E
acetate.
DISTINCT FROM AN 'E-CIGARETTE’
Illicit THC vaping pens or similar devices are distinct from
e-cigarettes, such as those made by Juul Labs, which vaporize a
nicotine-filled liquid.
Nicotine, the addictive ingredient in cigarettes and other tobacco
products, can cause serious problems for brain development in
adolescents. The liquid generally also contains propylene glycol,
vegetable glycerin and flavorings.
Juul says that research it sponsored found that smokers who switched
to its product for a few days had far less exposure to certain
harmful compounds in cigarettes. But the long-term health effects of
inhaling aerosol with these ingredients remain largely unknown, and
studies have indicated potential risks for cardiovascular disease
and lung health.
While e-cigarettes are marketed as a means to help smokers quit or
cut down, U.S health officials are concerned they are drawing a new
generation into nicotine addiction.
(Reporting by Chris Kirkham in Los Angeles, Jeffrey Dastin in San
Francisco and Bryan Pietsch in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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