A British media investigation found that illegal vapes contain the synthetic cannabinoid “Spice” The vape industry called for a distinction between legal nicotine vapes and illegal goods, so as not to cause panic among customers.
UK media send samples of vapes containing synthetic cannabinoids for testing
According to Clearing the Air on January 14, a researcher from ITV News in the United Kingdom recently contacted several laboratories in the United Kingdom in need of testing vape samples to test whether they contain synthetic cannabinoid flavors (Spice). In the email they sent, they made it clear that the move was in preparation for reports of illegal sales of vapes and vaping fluids in the UK. The email mentioned that they wanted to sample and test vapes and their vapes.
- Although “Spice” is an illegal substance in the UK, a recent BBC investigation revealed that a large number of illegal vapes contain the substance.
According to a study conducted by the University of Bath for the BBC, synthetic cannabinoids such as “Spice” have a different severe impact than THC and are linked to about half of all prison deaths. The study also found that vapes containing “Spice” are being sold as cannabis vapes in British schools and are extremely common. All of these products are currently illegal and sold by drug traffickers.
At this time, the Tobacco and vape Bill is going through Parliament, which could give the UK government the power to ban flavorings in legal vapes, but not “Spice” vapes. An industry insider told Clearing the Air in an interview that “the concern is that these reports could be used to intimidate lawmakers into supporting the suppression of legal products to the disadvantage of preventing drug dealers from selling goods that are already illegal.”
In 2019, US media reported that vapes were causing acute respiratory illnesses in young people, which were linked to legal tar vapes. While it was eventually found that these cases were caused by illegal marijuana vapes and contained vitamin E, teetotallers still used it as an argument for banning legal vape brands.
John Dunne, director general of the UK vape Industry Association (UKVIA), warned,
- “Consumers can confidently purchase compliant nicotine vapes from any reputable vape provider that are designed to help them transition from cigarettes.” There have been panic stories in the media such as’ school confiscated vapes contain zombie spice ‘, which has led people to wrongly assume that the nicotine vape industry is responsible for this new trend.”
- “Unless a clear distinction is made between the regulated vape market, which offers adult smokers products that are 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes, and illicit products that are unofficially supplied, it could make people wary of all vapes and potentially drive up smoking rates again.”
