The concerning element is not the marijuana extracts but the additives they are suspended in, which are generally unregulated and undisclosed (the cannibinoid analysis is there because it is legally mandated, and is the basis for tax assessment). Unfortunately, this recent Chicago Sun Times investigation[1] also demonstrated that even our very strict testing protocols in Illinois are apparently ineffective, with almost none of the tested products matching the lab results printed on the package.
I think vape cart manufacturers removed Vitamin E from their suspension medium because of the negative publicity. I'm not aware of any regulation that resulted because of it, which would specifically prevent Vitamin E being added back into the mix at some point.
Or, we were paying close attention and saw the rise of fake-branded carts absolutely exploding on social media right before popcorn lung cases hit the news. And for 3-4 weeks there were all these god damn stories and all these theories even here on HN.
But many of us, watching the sidelines in /r/fakecarts or whatever the various subs are that I used to check in on, were reading countless stories of "friend drives these from Cali bro, but my friend had to go to the hospital". Over and over, right before they started hitting the national news. Oh, and by this time the cannabis forums were already abuzz trying to figure out what the "new" suspension liquid was. And worried that it was Mineral Oil or Vit E oil. Which, it was.
And then there were 2-3 big fake cart producers busted in the Midwest, the new product was removed (never followed up to see if he was held liable) .... And just like that "popcorn lung" stories fell out of the news. Damn near immediately (I remember this hyper distinctively as I'd done months of research about everything concentrate/cart related before a large travel trip. Before I left I was watching fake carts explode. While traveling I was laughing as people were indicting pot, all carts, vapes in general. And then sure enough, a few arrests were made in the Midwest and I've literally never seen a noteworthy article about "vape popcorn lung".)
I am absolutely aghast at some ignorant, half-truths repeated up and down this thread. People that fell for FUD and assume their historical memories are correct. People acting like a well-regulated mod is a, I quote, "pipe bomb".
I swear, some folks act like because it's "drugs", there can't be objective information. Or are just so willing to be swept away with boogey man bullshit if it touches up against some societal "rule" built into them. And then the smugness of "well, duh, of course" based on an incomplete understanding of the situation.
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Bah humbug -- the real only answer that matters is -- buy an e-rig, have discipline, take baby dabs. Your money will literally go twice as far, zero risk of heavy metals, no bullshit additives if you're buying wax/live-resin, at least in Washington.
So your answer to unregulated and potentially dangerous carts is don't use them and dab instead? Like I don't disagree, I'm just not sure what you're getting at.
I wouldn't touch those carts for love or money, because of their unregulated nature. I am very fortunate in that I can grow my own and I use a flower/dry herb vape. Can't beat that IMO.
At least in the UK, where there is a small, highly regulated, legal medical market, the few carts that are available contain no additives at all - only cannabinoids and terpenes. You can look up Theraceed and Columbia, both of which IIRC are sold in the US TOO.
They also cost around a whopping £85 in the UK, for just ~350mg of THC, which is some serious price gouging :(
1. https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2021/12/10/22828340/le...