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Although the FDA does not formally regulate marijuana, which is illegal under federal law, the unexpected appearance of a vaping-related disease can have troubling implications for the cannabis industry, including some major players based in Illinois. Vaping is the second most popular method of legal marijuana use – behind smoking – and it's the fastest growing part of the business, says John Kagia, Knowledge Manager at New Frontier. Data, a cannabis research firm in Washington, DC "Vapes went to 30 percent near zero four years ago".
This trajectory could reverse if health concerns cause consumers to stop taking vapors or if regulators prohibit them. To maintain sales growth, legal marijuana companies should convince vapers to try other methods.
Until now, most incidents appear to be related to a marijuana vaping bought on the illicit market. However, a man who had died had bought vaping products at a licensed clinic. The authorities do not yet know if the product related to the dispensary played a role in his death.
The investigative agencies noted that the vape cartridges used by several deceased people contained vitamin E oil, an additive that some suppliers often use to deliver THC spray. Although vitamin E oil is safe when it is ingested or applied locally, scientists do not know if it can be safely inhaled. Legal marijuana growers and clinic operators say that they do not use vitamin E in their vaping products, which are inspected closely.
"We went to each of our suppliers to make sure they did not use vitamin E or any other material of concern," said Mitch Kahn, CEO of Grassroots Cannabis, based in Chicago. "The safety of our products is our top priority."
Nevertheless, the wave of disease has triggered a swift and far-reaching response from government agencies and elected officials, including US Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. But the outcry mainly concerns vapers in general and fears that a new generation is interested in tobacco after smoking has finally declined. The White House announced that the FDA had the intention to ban flavored electronic cigarette products.
The cannabis industry may choose not to do much because politicians focus on the manufacturers of vaping products. But weed control companies continue to be dragged into the spotlight. A Sept. 6 report published in the New England Journal of Medicine on lung disease related to the use of electronic cigarettes in Illinois and Wisconsin indicated that 84% of the 53 patients studied "reported having used products (THC) in electronic cigarette devices ".
The state says to stay tuned
Regulators in the marijuana industry have not indicated they intended to ban or otherwise restrict the sale of vaping products. . The state of Illinois says only that it has "brought together a team of health experts to make recommendations."
Kelly Cassidy, state representative, co-author of the marijuana law, said that vaping "is part of the conversation", with the state implementing regulations regarding the sale of marijuana to recreational purposes, which is scheduled to start on January 1st. "We want to make sure we do it thoughtfully."
Similarly, Dalia Hernandez, spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, said that without a decisive link to a product, it does not expect the state to consider banning the ban on cannabinoid sprays. . "Right now we are investigating cases, we have not spent a lot of time on regulation."
In the meantime, marijuana companies are looking for a positive potential. "The headlines encourage people to know where they are buying the products and their content, and they will be looking for a trusted supplier," said Jason Erkes, spokesperson for Cresco Labs, based in Chicago.
Dr. Maria Rahmandar, Assistant Professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, says this may not be enough. "Certainly, I am concerned about the components of the black market, but nicotine and even THC are still legal.Some products have been" deemed safe "in one area but can not be proven safe.We are learning horrible results."
Kahn acknowledges, "This is a wake-up call that we, as an industry, need more research."
The cannabis industry sees in the alarm about the potential risks of vaping for health an opportunity to advocate for the legalization and federal regulation of marijuana. At present, marijuana use is regulated by law. Many weed management companies believe that federal oversight would give the public more confidence and prevent unlicensed competitors.
It is unclear to what extent health concerns, perhaps aggravated by future restrictions or absolute bans on vaping products, will hurt legal cannabis vendors.
New Frontier reports that clinic sales data in the exclusively medical cannabis markets of Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Arizona show a 10-15% decline between early August and early September. In Illinois, which remains a relatively small market until January 1, sales fell by about 2.5%.
Sales fell by 5 to 10% in the Massachusetts, Oregon and Nevada leisure markets, but little change was observed in Colorado and Washington, two of the most advanced markets.
"It seems that consumers are reacting," said Kagia, pointing out that the data is preliminary because of the speed with which the situation is changing. "It remains to be seen how much it is moving in. The risk of this happening is further heightened by the real possibility that federal investigations will keep this issue in the forefront for consumers.
"We have not yet seen an impact on overall sales, which is why we think, at least for the moment, that consumers are reallocating their expenses without completely eliminating them."
Jon Asplund contributed.
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