Please explain to me: those who died, what were they vaping?

[zapped]

It wasn't oils used in the extraction, but oils used as a thickening agent. This is done to dilute the product and make more profit. Shady production tactics to squeeze every dime out of their stock as humanly possible. This was done mostly by fly by night companies, not the legit labs.

Three Companies Subpoenaed in Weed Vape Illness Investigation

I agree with half of that statement; that it was also being used to cut the product.

But any oil-based extraction has to use oil as a carrier.

Those fly by night companies were probably using a magical butter machine.

You just drop the weed in, add the oil or the butter , press a couple of buttons and it does all the work for you.

My understanding is that alcohol-based tinctures are a harder, more time-consuming and expensive process.

Drug users have been calling our e-liquid oil for almost a decade now, so it's no wonder that they thought it was okay to put in their lungs.

 

[Zaryk]

I agree with half of that statement that it was also being used to cut the product.

But any oil-based extraction has to use oil as a carrier.

Let's fly by night companies were probably using a magical butter machine.

You just drop the weed in add the oil at the butter it was a couple of buttons and it does all the work for you.

my understanding that alcohol-based tinctures are a more time-consuming and expensive process

I cannot commit on that, as I don't have any experience in the extraction process. When I used THC, it was simply rolled in paper and lit with a flame. Ya know, old school.

I did read an article a few weeks ago that stated the legit labs do not use oils in any of their production processes though. And some of those labs dedicated resources to help find the problem by testing suspect products. So, at least some of those THC products are not highly toxic. But it also costs over double the price of the potentially tainted products, which is why so many are attracted to the tainted stuff.

 

[zapped]

On e personal note this affected my nephew.

When I saw him back during the holidays I noticed he had dark circles under his eyes and had lost a lot of weight, like 40 lbs. Even his demeanor had changed, he seemed sad or depressed.

I told my wife I was worried about him. He used to be a very strapping, healthy 18 year old who was looking forward to joining the Marines.

Then he was admitted to the hospital. At first we heard that he had Celiac disease.

Then he told us he was allergic to weed and finally admitted that it was the vape carts.

His mom who is my wife's sister never mentioned it to her. And they're close.

So I can definitely understand the embarassment and shame as well as families and individuals wanting to lie and cover this up.

I'm just glad they caught it before it went too far and that we didn't lose him

 

[Punk In Drublic]

The many methods of extraction and processing are practiced worldwide with millions of users. And usage has been going on for quite some time. vaping THC predates the modern e-cig. But yet the US is the only region that is getting ill, and has done so within a very specific timeframe.

What differs with the US vs the rest of the world, was the introduction of vitamin e acetate as a cutting agent late last year. Even Canada, who’s per capita usage is double that of the US, has not picked up on this trend despite we share many trends given our joining boarders. And because of our joining boarders, we also share a very healthy black market.

Pesticides and fungicides have been used on crops for decades. Even legalized regions that heavily regulate the usage of pesticides and fungicides cannot completely avoid traces due to them being carried through rain run off’s. There is no doubt traces of pesticides and fungicides have been found with illicit product, but the question is, how much and are they at concerning levels. It is possible a black market grower has used more than the usual amount of pest/fungicides - but is it probable that every black market grower, from many different regions are also using the same concerning levels thus posing a higher risk to the US. Not to mention, the dangers of pest/fungicides become more evident when combust, but yet no illness have been reported from flower smokers.

It is impossible for millions of users world wide to be void of any lung illnesses but yet THC usage is only affecting those in the US. It is also impossible for thousands of effected users, all with different habits and usage duration to become ill within the same time unless it was caused by a contaminate. Food poising comes to mind!