Vaping is no doubt one of the most popular methods through which people consume tobacco or cannabis products. However, recent reports the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that 34 people might have lost their lives and another 1600 taken ill due to complications related to vaping is worrying. According to CDC, most cases of these complications are attributed to THC, the psychoactive compound that is found in cannabis that is solely responsible for the high effect cannabis causes its users. As a result, a section of health experts are demanding for vaping bans to safeguard the lives of thousands of people who prefer this method of consuming either tobacco or cannabis.
According to CBD data, approximately 78% of affected patients have confirmed using products that are rich in THC, in most cases, pre-filled cartridges. It is this population that later reported lung-related complications because some of these users acquire and use unlicensed cartridges. Considering the legal status of cannabis in the United States, most cannabis users have to use black market products as they are not readily available in the market.
Investigations however point towards a number of commonly known manufacturers and dealers in black market tobacco and cannabis products. However, evidence available shows that the risk factors might have little to do with the general vaping practice and more about vaping some known THC products that are being made available to the public through the back door. This section appears to disagree with those calling for vaping bans because since it is not the practice of vaping that is resulting the spat of deaths and health complications but the substances that are being vaped, mostly illegal.
The legal question
Marijuana is one of the fastest growing industries in America. There has been a lot of push for pot legalization, which has been met with equal resistance from anti-cannabis crusaders and the governments. Might this be the reason why most people would rather bend the low to enjoy their cannabis puffs and vape, even if it puts their lives at risk? Even in states where recreational use of marijuana is legal, we have had cases of reported. What then might be the problem?
The truth of the matter is that, pot users will try everything within their power to consume the substance, even if it means breaking the law with the hope of not being caught. What this has led to is that, Uncle Sam is still spending money to treat the same people the current legal status of cannabis is supposed to protect.
Regulations
You can only regulate what is legal and not illegal. You cannot determine standards of products that you consider illegal. There is no way Food and Drug Administration will introduce controls on schedule one substances that it has outlawed. Calling for vaping bans might not be the solution because some of the substances that are vaped are not actually illegal such as CBD oil, which is known to possess tremendous therapeutic benefits to users.
Black market THC products are currently popular because that is the only way that users can lay their hands on. Medical marijuana might be as controversial, but no one is refuting the fact that it works. In fact, studies show that close to 50% of people who have used medical marijuana products to manage conditions such as chronic pain have ever since quit the typical painkillers because they don’t cause any serious side effects. If that is the case, why then not consider pot legalizations and thereafter come up with the requisite laws and regulations that will have to be adhered to by all?
FDA has tested a large number of tests on the cartridges and other devices to ascertain the real cause of the deaths and health complications. Their findings point at some ingredients that might have found their way into the US market that are making people sick. Those calling for vaping bans might want to think about how long people have vaped nicotine without risking lives. Is cigarette smoking banned in the USA? Of course not. However, rarely would you find such alarming cases of risks from tobacco. On the other hand, failing to legalize cannabis has resulted into mushrooming of black market products whose quality and safety is questionable.
Some of the contaminants discovered by the FDA include vitamin E acetate, which even though can be safe for use as a supplement, can be unsafe when inhaled directly into lungs. There are also possibilities of harmful pesticides in these products, which still points back to black market. Legal status of cannabis may vary from one state to another, but they are all guided by the federal laws. It is about time the lawmakers took this matter seriously to protect innocent citizens from risking and losing their dear lives. In this case, pot legalization might be the only sure way to do it because it will give relevant agencies power to come up with proper regulations and control mechanisms on quality and standards with stringent compliance requirements.