Kaiser Health News, among other media outlets, are sounding the alarm on hundreds of people throughout the country reporting sicknesses as a result of black market vape pens with THC.
Yesterday WeedPress reported hospitalization numbers around 250; today it is upwards of 450 people. Three users so far may have died. This may be somewhat similar to the bathtub gin issue during alcohol prohibition where black market substance use endangered consumers lives, but we don’t want to be overreacting until we know what’s truly going on. For now we can only guess.
Kaiser Health News article, Vitamin E Oil Eyed As Culprit In Vaping-Related Lung Illnesses, But Some Health Officials Remain Doubtful, links to virtually every major mainstream media outlet. The headlines all say that CDC officials are considering Vitamin E as a likely culprit but that other causes may also be causing this black market created health concern.
Many cannabis advocates have been talking about this black market product issue lately. Hopefully this will force Congress to legalize cannabis today, protecting people now, not in ten years. Either way, the consequences of prohibition we lived through from the early 1900’s has been replicated and the same results are in: dangerous products, dubious salesmen, consumer safety concerns, and the sick and poor fined into poverty or thrown in jail/given a record that prevents employment. Increased crime, death, disease and health costs from prohibition is the problem here.
See also: #BlackMarketNews: Hundreds Sickened; Officials Today Interviewed 8 Minnesotans About Vape Pens
It might not be Vitamin E solely causing the, again, black market health crisis, but it might be, too. I’m not a doctor, I just don’t buy black market vape cartridges, but I know many people who do, and they should really, truly stop now. The overwhelming amount of products on the black market there are suspect and untraceable. It’s not worth risking your health when you can, for a little while, buy flower instead.
See also: Four Iowans Report Severe Sickness After Using Likely Counterfeit THC Vape Pens #BlackMarketNews
For legal options, Minnesotans can buy CBD vaporizers virtually anywhere, as the state legalized CBD recently. Iowans can not legally buy CBD in Iowa, as Iowa has not legalized CBD. Legal options may not be as effective since there isn’t any THC but at least consumers will know where their source came from. Buyer beware: THC cartridges on the black market are risky for now, and people should consider completely refraining from their use until this thing gets a little less hazy.
WeedPress: The Paper Trail 
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