Vaping THC and the Dangers of Drugs in 2019
As the country debates the dangers of vaping and whether it’s a safer alternative to smoking tobacco, lawmakers have been working to induce bans on products that are flavored as the toll rises of people who are reporting illnesses that are linked to vaping.
One can debate all day long as to whether or not vaping is a good alternative for smokers who want to quit smoking, but one thing that appears to be overlooked in all of this is the direct link to THC—specifically black market products that the majority of these cases appear to have. Along with marijuana’s growing acceptance in society has also come a wave of new products such as edibles and vape juices that have created big business for the weed industry.
There is danger in this, however, as a lot of these THC-infused vape products that people are ordering off the dark web and other places have no regulations, are being refilled into name- branded cartridges and being passed off as something safe and reliable. With these new technologies and an ever-increasing competitive marketplace, sellers are going to start finding ways to stand out, creating a very dangerous and slippery slope for many unsuspecting consumers. Because of the nature of vape juices and the way THC is infused in highly concentrated levels, these products have the potential to become so strong they will cease to create a high that is even remotely comparable to the type people are used to when smoking a joint or bowl of the plant. We’ve already seen this trend with “dabs” and other highly concentrated methods such as edibles, and now it is moving towards refillable vape cartridges masquerading as nicotine-branded products.
I believe that this method is only going to become more and more dangerous as this market becomes more and more competitive. We are already seeing fentanyl-based overdoses that have occurred due to it being laced in non-traditional opioid drugs such as cocaine and meth. Because of its highly addictive nature, it’s an easy and cheap hook distributors use to both make their drug stand out and have the bonus of repeat business, despite the dangers and risks involved in mixing these drugs. With no regulations on these THC-infused juices and with business booming in a competitive market, it’s only a matter of time before they are also being laced with cheap and dangerous chemicals with the addictive hooks that keep people coming back.
As THC continues to be legalized in more and more states across the country and with the vaping trend continuing to rise as the go-to form of smoking it, it’s inevitable that it won’t be long before the unsuspecting pot smoker who believes they are harmlessly inhaling THC is actually smoking something far more dangerous, addictive, and possibly deadly. In fact, with all the stories on vape-related illnesses and deaths, what is to say this isn’t already happening?
The reality is that with technology in today’s world creating newer, cheaper, and more convenient ways to take drugs while also making them far more potent and potentially dangerous, there is no better time than today to start taking steps to avoid drugs altogether. If you or anyone you know is seeking help, please reach out.
