The testing of 25 illicit vape cartridges by San Diego’s Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs resulted in an 80% failure rate.
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Platinum Vape company conducted a buyback program
CALIFORNIA SURPASSES $1B IN TAX REVENUES
in partnership with Mankind Dispensary and supplied the illegal cartridges for testing. The cartridges were run through testing for potency, pesticides, heavy metals and vitamin E acetate, which was the agent identified in the cartridges that caused illness nationwide. Most of the cartridges tested contained trace levels of vitamin E and five tested over 20%, indicating they were cut with this agent for profit. Half of the cartridges contained less than 50% THC. For the safety testing, 60% failed for pesticides like myclobutanil, and 11 of the 25 tested positive for cyano (aka nitrile) groups, which when heated, convert to hydrogen cyanide gas. The heavy metal testing resulted in 36% failing for lead content, likely as a result of the strong acidic nature of cannabinoid terpenes leaching the lead from inferior hardware.
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80% OF ILLICIT VAPE CARTRIDGES FAIL FOR PESTICIDES AND HEAVY METALS
Most of the cartridges tested contained trace levels of vitamin E and five tested over 20%, indicating they were cut with this agent for profit. Half of the cartridges Story by contained less Michael Early than 50% THC.
California has now reeled in over $1B in tax revenues from legal Cannabis operators. CALIFORNIA DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES BAND TOGETHER AGAINST BAD ACTORS Netting $395.4 million in 2018 and $629.2 About 30 businesses across the state, including nearly 20 licensed distribution companies, have come together million in 2019, California to fight against the rampant practice of non-payment. has now collected $1,024,600,000 in its first istorically, bad actors have been dealt with in a very different fashion. But in today’s legal market, businesses are seeking above board two years of legal weed. methods to help combat unacceptable behavior in the community. Some estimates anticipate The Cannabis Distribution Association was formed in 2019 and includes some a mature market would of California’s largest Cannabis businesses, such as Flow Kana and CannaCraft. generate over $1B a year. The CDA has been working on developing a credit rating system to help keep After covering regulatory track of which businesses are paying their bills and which are not. Several of the group’s members have already developed internal rating systems, which costs, the bulk of those the CDA is now working to synchronize with their own. In addition to the revenues have been credit rating system being developed, a ‘blacklist’ of businesses and brokers spent on childcare for low who have a history of not paying their bills is also being compiled. The goal income families, cleaning of the formation of these tools is to help good actors in the community better understand the risks of doing business with certain entities, thus avoiding up trespass grows, potentially business-ending losses. public safety grants and Cannabis research. Stories by Nate Williams @Natew415
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