In response to the vaporizer-linked pulmonary disease sweeping the nation, Uncle Ike’s cannabis dispensary in Seattle recently submitted vaporizer cartridges from its store shelves for lab testing. 100 percent of the tested cartridges came back clean of vitamin E acetate, the compound found to be responsible for the recent hospitalizations.
“A lot of customers have come in questioning is this dangerous or is this okay?” owner Ian Eisenberg told Q13 FOX.
“We are thrilled to announce upon the receipt of all test results that all products which were randomly pulled have tested OK! We commend all the vendors involved for their integrity and dedication to consumer safety as well as the participating retailers for their transparency. This project is a great example of the collaboration and accountability necessary to ensure that we keep Washington cannabis clean and safe for all!” — Statement from Uncle Ike’s
The vape-linked lung disease has resulted in at least nine deaths and more than 600 hospitalizations nationwide. Statements from the CDC suggest that counterfeit vape products may be to blame, but the agency is not yet ready to definitively link illicit market cannabis cartridges to the hospitalizations.
“At this point I think caution in all products is recommended. It may not even be the THC or the nicotine. It may be the additives or substances that may be common. It may be the material is not labeled appropriately,” CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat told lawmakers of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, CNBC reports.
Amazon, meanwhile, has pulled vaporizer cartridge materials from its offerings, while Massachusetts just passed a four-month ban on vaporizer sales in the state.
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