Vape Cartridges Explained

V aping has evolved the way cannabis is consumed. THC cartridges might be convenient and discreet, but their are concerns to the wide variety of products. Few consumers have any idea what they're actually vaping, what chemicals are mixed in with the cannabis oil, and what materials comprise the actual hardware. The vaporizer supply chain is fairly opaque, and the average person has little way to verify that what they're inhaling is safe to consume. Luckly, IK Delivery been around along enough to point you in the right direction in this cloudy industry.

Whats the Concern?

THC cartridges have been made with CO2 oil for quite some time. To make the consistency of the oil more viscous and ideal for vaporizing in wicks and atomizers (hardware), companies have cut CO2 oils with thinners. Some manufacturers use polyethylene glycol, or PEG. PEGs can be contaminated with ethylene oxide, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies as a carcinogen. It can also harm the nervous system, and is classified as a "developmental toxicant" by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Other manufacturers use propylene glycol (PG), a common household solvent also used in deodorant sticks, hand sanitizers, cigar humidors, and smoke machines. In adverse reactions, a consumer can experience sore throat, muscle pain, or strong smelling urine.

Are things changing? ... ish

Nowadays, many cartridges are filled with distillates which refine CO2 oil a step further to produce a high cannabinoid, less viscous product. Certain high-grade winterized CO2 oils are uniquely compatible with vaporizer cartridges due to the fact that they do not require additives of any kind to meet the viscosity levels needed to vaporize in an atomizer. If made properly, these oils are able to retain modest levels of plant-based terpenes, which act as natural thinning agents as well as give the oils their signature strain-specific flavors.

This article is not here to scare you away from cartridges, but to give you awareness to this unregulated industry. More and more states move to legalizing cannabis but day-lighting a billion dollar Black Market with extremely high tax has not been successful. The one good thing about legalizing is regulations and making sure consumers are getting safe to use products. We recommend PureVape a California Licensed producer of cannabis oil. We have learned from our rep that PureVape cartridge hardware has to be cut in half and have every piece of metal tested even if it never touches the oil. Almost all cartridges from China will fail this test. Along with the atomizer test, the oil is tested for potency, and other pesticides. We see all the time from vendors saying the oil is 92% THC and you have to smoke half the cartridge to get affects. Meaning the oil was tested then cut with a thinner before being filled.

Ugh.. Knock offs

Now its harder than ever before to spot a cartridge that is not from the real vendor. Over-sea companies have made it super easy to knock off major brands like Brass Knuckles, Stiiizy and ROVE. From the boxing to the embed logos in the cartridge, everything looks exactly like the real thing. We use to be able to use the "bubble test" and flip the cartridge to the opposite side of the air bubble to see if the oil was thick or not. You would be able to tell that the oil was cut with propylene glycol cause the air bubble would rise real fast. Now knock off brands are using additive thickeners and the only real tell tale sign is if you have had a real cartridge from the brand previous and can tell its not as strong. We only get our cartridges from licensed companies for this exact reason.

The Solution

Making a choice on getting the right cartridge can be difficult, but we make it easy for you choose from Quality Licensed Products. Check out what we have in stock