Canada 1

A DROP ABOVE THE REST A DROP ABOVE THE REST

Hi there and welcome to the first official issue of Vapouround Canada!

The debut of this magazine coincides with some exciting news at Vapouround HQ in the UK as it’s my first issue as editor and I’m a tad excited about that.

You may have met some of the team at Canada’s Vape Expo in Toronto in June, where we unveiled our preview edition. There was such a great buzz about the CVE that weekend and we can’t wait to return.

We met some familiar faces who you will see plenty of in upcoming issues and we made some new acquaintances too, which makes us very excited about Canada’s vaping future indeed.

From regulation to public perception to trade wars, at Vapouround we delve into the thick of it all, bringing everything that’s happening in this electric and rapidly growing industry to the professionals and vape shops that keep things ticking over.

That’s why you’ll find big news headlines from places like the UK and the US, coupled with stories shaping the future of vaping right here in Canada, and in Asia and Europe’s up and coming markets too.

Each issue of Vapouround Canada will bring new developments, and let’s face it, in this industry we’re never short of talking points.

As a company founded in the UK, Vapouround is going to be looking into the effects and possibilities Brexit will bring in the coming months. Who knows what will have occurred politically by the time issue two rolls around, but whatever happens, we’ll bring you insight on the impact this will undoubtedly have for the global vape industry.

A couple of things to watch out for in this issue. We’ve got the latest on how Canadian delegates stood up for transparency after journalists were removed from a World Health Organization (WHO) conference in Geneva. Plus don’t miss the latest from our friends over at Premium Liquid Labs on pages 44-45.

Until then, be sure to check out our blog on VapouroundCanada.com for the latest happenings in between issues.

See you in three months for issue two!

Róisín Delaney - Editor

VOTING NOW LIVE!

A rundown of the latest industry news and research from around the globe.

The Cloud The Cloud

Aim high or low?

Ex-smokers may be better off vaping high nicotine liquids according to a study funded by Cancer Research UK. Vapers using low rather than high nicotine e-liquids may be using their devices more intensely, potentially increasing the risk of exposure to toxins which may be present in the vapour, according to the London South Bank University study. The participants in the study vaping lower nicotine reported a stronger urge to vape, more acute withdrawal symptoms and were less satisfied after use, the findings show. While there can be toxic chemicals present in vapour, they are far fewer and at lower concentrations than in tobacco smoke, the study clarifies.

Editor’s pick

A short satirical horror film has been released, shedding light on the tobacco industry and the media’s ongoing attempts to suppress vaping. ‘The Vaping [Not Dead]’ tells the story of a group of vapers whose lifestyle choice is under threat from a psychopathic, baseball bat-wielding manifestation. With a cast and crew comprised entirely of impassioned vapers, this award-winning film directed by Dominique Aubert breaks new ground for vaping activism. Read more on page 70-71.

Oxford rules

The online journal Oxford Academic has come out against naming e-cigarettes as tobacco products. “Are e-cigarettes tobacco products?” describes the merging of vaping and tobacco products as a, “particularly US phenomenon” and said that the language used by a medical academics must be clear and unambiguous: “We are fundamentally a scientific journal and should ensure that the terms we use a clear, unambiguous and valid.”

The ‘power wall’ effect

According to RAND Corporation, a non-profit research organization based in California, teenagers who view advertising for tobacco products in convenience stores are more willing to try vaping products and tobacco products in the future compared to their peers who visited a store where the tobacco ‘power wall’ was hidden. In findings published by the Nicotine & Tobacco Research journal, adolescents who were not exposed to the power wall were not as open to trying e-cigarettes or combustible cigarettes. The study’s lead author Michael S. Dunbar said in a press release, “Our findings provide evidence that hiding the tobacco wall in convenience stores might reduce the number of adolescents who try e-cigarettes.” Researchers also say the study provides more evidence that point-of-sale advertising found in convenience stores is “a persuasive force.”

A first for time for everything

Iceland is to become the first nation to adopt a specific law for vaping with zero links to tobacco products. The law, due to come in February 2019, also covers advertising, making it legal to advertise vaping products in the Nordic country. However, it will also limit nicotine concentration to two percent and stipulates that a 0.9 percent tax be applied to all vaping product sales, which will fund anti-smoking initiatives. The Icelandic Health Directorate are crediting e-cigarettes for a 40 percent drop in smoking rates since 2014.

Decade old decree

The Belgian Vaping Union is appealing to the nation’s government to abandon a 2009 royal decree which opposes the development of a Belgian vape industry. At the time, the decision proved unpopular among the Belgian vape community and almost a decade later, the country’s main vape advocacy group has raised funds take a lawsuit against the health ministry. It is hoped these measures will help Belgian officials to recognise the benefits of vaping to public health and the economy. Meanwhile, Health Minister Maggie de Block has announced the introduction of a new, neutral cigarette pack which is said to be rolled out in the near future.

Come back later

A gang of would-be thieves were foiled by a quick-thinking shop owner who told them to come back later if they wanted to rob his vape store in Charleroi, Belgium. The store owner, known as Didier, refused to give them either cash or stock and spent nearly 15 minutes chatting to them to try and win their trust. He eventually got them to leave by suggesting they could either rob him now or they could return after the store had closed when the takings would be higher. Amazingly they agreed to return at 6.30pm the same evening. In the meantime Didier called the police. He told reporters: “Clearly they weren’t the brightest. It was like it was a comedy. They are being called the worst robbers in Belgium.” At 5.30pm – an hour before closing time – the group came back but Didier was having none of it. Finally, on schedule, the gang returned for a third time and seemed genuinely surprised when police were waiting for them in the back of the store. Five males, including a minor were arrested at the scene, while the sixth member of the group managed to flee.

Viagra & Vape?

The US Food and Drug Administration has written to a vape company having discovered their e-liquids contain chemicals active in Viagra.

HelloCig Electronic Technology received a warning from the FDA as the company’s e-liquids were found to contain tadalafil and sildenafil. These chemicals are active ingredients in erectile dysfunction drugs Cialis and Viagra. The letter followed FDA officials seeing the products advertised online. FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb MD said: “There are no e-liquid products approved to contain prescription drugs or any other medications that require a doctor’s supervision.” Vapouround reached out to the vape company for comment but hadn’t received a response at the time of printing this issue.

Unicorns & Decacorns

JUUL Labs has become the fastest startup in history to reach a $10 billion valuation and did so four times quicker than previous record holder Facebook. It took just seven months after its first venture-capital raise to smash through the decacorn valuation. JUUL also got there almost five times faster than Snapchat and 11 times faster than Dropbox. According to data obtained by Yahoo Finance, JUUL, which is currently valued at $15 billion, accounts for 73 percent of all e-cigarette sales in the US. Unicorns are companies that quickly achieve a billiondollar valuation while a decacorn is a company that achieves a $10bn valuation.

Vapotage

Tobacconists in France are embracing the e-cigarette in the hopes of retaining business. Lead market research hub Ecigintelligence reports buralistes are helping existing customers convert to vaping as they quit smoking. Since 2010, e-cigarettes have been sold in more than half of French tabac stores making up around 15 percent of the French vape market. The market intelligence resource also cites a drop in the number of tabac stores across France. In 2002 there were 32,000, this year there are 24,500. Meanwhile the cost of a pack of cigarettes in France is expected to reach €10 by 2020.

ONTARIO HEALTH GROUPS PROPOSE CONVENIENCE STORE AD BAN

The Canadian Cancer Society believes that in-store promotions encourage youths to vape

By Gordon Stribling

Health groups have called on the government to close the legal loophole that allows vaping products to be displayed and advertised in Ontario convenience stores.

The comments were made at committee hearings where legislators discussed Bill 36, the Cannabis Statute Law Amendment Act. Organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society said that in-store promotions are luring young people to try vaping.

Rob Cunningham, senior analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society, said: “The displays and promotions normalize vaping because the devices are treated as regular products, sold alongside chocolate bars, magazines and drinks. Kids need to be protected.”

Changes to regulations that would have banned the advertising of vape products were put on-hold on July 1. Bill 36 will exempt vaping products from the tobacco display ban.

Jaye Blancher of the Tobacco Harm Reduction Association of Canada argued that smokers should be made aware of less-harmful alternatives when they buy their cigarettes.

Blancher said: “[The act] positively reflects that vaping is less risky by categorizing tobacco and vaping separately.”

According to Sarah Butson of the Ontario Lung Association, teen vaping has increased significantly and is now more prevalent than cigarette-smoking.

A survey by The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that 10.7 percent of Ontarian students in grades 10 to 12 had recently used e-cigarettes compared to seven percent who had recently used a cigarette.

However, the authors of the study said that there was insufficient evidence of a so-called ‘gateway effect’ from vaping to smoking. Lead researcher David Hammond of the School of Public Health at the University of Waterloo, said: “A lot of what we’re seeing in our study and a lot of other studies out there is a simple fact, and that is the kids who do risky things, the ones that are more likely to try e-cigarettes are also more likely to try smoking.

“And guess what? They’re also more likely to try alcohol and marijuana. It’s all to do with the fact that kids who are susceptible are going to try different things.”

A more recent study of the youth community in the Niagara region of Ontario found that just 0.2 percent of teens reported daily e-cigarette use, adding weight to the argument that vaping among this group is mostly experimental.

While the TVPA reflects Health Canada’s open-minded and progressive approach to vaping regulation, fears of a so-called teen vaping ‘epidemic’ in the US have compelled FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb to crack down hard on the industry.

The US Food and Drug Administration announced “the largest-ever coordinated initiative against violative sales in the history of the FDA” in September, threatening to ban certain flavours or remove e-cigarettes from the market altogether.

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said: “I use the word epidemic with great care. E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous — and dangerous — trend among teens. The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use we’re seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end. It’s simply not tolerable.”

Shortly after the crackdown was announced, the FDA began a new campaign called ‘The Real Cost’, aimed at educating teenagers who used or had considered using e-cigarettes.

The campaign video directed by mother! director, Darren Aronofsky, depicts vaping as a parasitic organism taking over minds and bodies of teenagers and spreading like a virus.

Meanwhile, in the UK, an investigation by The Times revealed in October that e-liquid companies were using images of candy, popcorn and ice cream to ‘hook children into addiction.’

However, the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) responded by sharing Action for Smoking and Health (ASH) data showing that just two percent of youths used vaping products weekly or more frequently.

“The displays and promotions normalize vaping because the devices are treated as regular products, sold alongside chocolate bars, magazines and drinks.”

CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT

and the CANNABIS ACT

New legislation prevents brands naming products after an individual, character or animal

By Patrick Griffin

Companies using celebrity endorsement for their cannabis brands may have to find new ways to promote their products from now on.

The new Cannabis Act says that promotional material for marijuana products must not include the depiction of “a person, character or animal, whether real or fictional.”

This means that brands whose campaigns include celebrity names such as Marley Natural and Leafs By Snoop may find new challenges when it comes to marketing and promotion.

A spokesperson for Health Canada told Marijuana Business Daily: “Under the [previous] regulations, a brand could be named after an individual but The Cannabis Act will prohibit this and other types of promotions.”

The Act, which became law on October 17, serves to legalize recreational use of cannabis throughout Canada and comes at a time when celebrity endorsement within the industry is becoming increasingly popular.

British Columbia-based Tilray, a global leader in medical cannabis research, cultivation, processing and distribution, said it plans to sell the Marley Natural line to recreational cannabis users in Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Marley Natural products are “rooted in the life and legacy of Bob Marley,” the company said in a news release earlier this year.

It is still unclear how the strictly the new law will be applied. For example, companies may be able to stay on the right side of the legislation by naming a cannabis product after some “signature element” of a celebrity.

Trina Fraser, a business lawyer at Brazeau Seller Law, asked: “What if you name a cannabis product after a band? Or a song, or book, or movie, or some other signature element of a celebrity’s public persona? “While such brands would be referable to the celebrity, they would arguably not include ‘depictions’ of the celebrity.”

Rock band The Tragically Hip, from Kingston, Ontario, seem to be going down this route. They have invested in cannabis producer Newstrike to launch Up Cannabis as their official brand of medical marijuana.

The company has said it also plans to take advantage of the new relaxed cannabis laws by seeking to expand its portfolio of products.

In a recent letter to shareholders chief executive Jay Wilgar said the company was exploring “several opportunities” as it eyes longterm opportunities in the sector, including cannabis concentrates, vape pens, edibles and beverages.”

Canopy Growth Corporation, from Ontario, has the exclusive Canadian rights for Snoop Dogg’s Leafs by Snoop marijuana brand and intends to sell the product to recreational consumers in Manitoba.

Vaping products, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes will be banned in Hong Kong as part of a raft of social policy measures announced by the government.

Under the new law it will be illegal to import, manufacture, sell, distribute or advertise e-cigarettes or next-generation tobacco products. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the move as part of a wide-ranging policy address in which nearly 250 initiatives covering housing, health care and welfare were announced. She said there was, “a lack of sufficient evidence to prove that vaping products can help quit smoking,” adding that a ban was needed because the interests of children had to take priority over the interests of helping smokers to quit tobacco. However, critics say that if protecting children was so important then the government should also ban cigarettes and alcohol.

The day after Lam announced the vaping ban she suggested during a radio interview that it was also worth considering banning traditional tobacco products in Hong Kong. She reportedly said that while she was “bold enough to impose a total ban on traditional tobacco, there are a lot of pros and cons that needed to be considered before doing so.”

The move came as a shock to many as the government had previously only talked about regulating e-cigarettes in the same way tobacco products are regulated.

The South China Morning Post reported that the previous administration had considered imposing a total ban in 2016 but shelved the idea amid concerns that it would be too difficult to implement.

The new ban has sparked furious criticism as vaping and tobacco groups say it will only serve to boost the market in illegal black market sales and do nothing to protect minors.

Hong Kong’s surprise ban on all vaping products

New policy will ban the importation, manufacture, sale, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes could be targeted next.

By Patrick Griffin

Christine Hu, spokeswoman of the Coalition on Tobacco Affairs, said: “We are disappointed by the government’s selective and blind adoption of views expressed by certain groups, while ignoring opinions from the industry and scientific data from overseas.”

Morning Post columnist Stephen Vines branded the move “absurd” and asked, in an article for the paper: “If vaping is bad as smoking, why hasn’t tobacco been outlawed?”

He said: “Those promoting the ban have overexcitedly argued that vaping either poses a greater health risk than tobacco consumption, or is just as bad.

“They have focused their concern on the attraction e-cigarettes hold for the young and cited controversial evidence that vaping does nothing to reduce tobacco consumption.

“The ban on e-cigarettes undermines Hong Kong’s fundamental capitalist ethos that stresses choice, self-reliance and firm opposition to government control of markets.”

He concluded that the only immediate beneficiary of the new ban would be tobacco companies, which could look forward to reversing the trend of declining cigarette sales.

Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Secretary for Food and Health, said the new policy had been finalized and would not be changed. She dismissed concerns that the move would encourage vapers to switch back to cigarettes as “mere speculation” which was not supported by data.

Professor Gabriel Matthew Leung Cheuk-wai, dean of the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Medicine praised the measure as an “important milestone” and also called for a “significant increase” in tobacco tax in the next budget.

“The ban on e-cigarettes undermines Hong Kong’s fundamental capitalist ethos that stresses choice, self-reliance and firm opposition to government control of markets.”

INNOVATE TO THRIVE

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World Health Organization accused of “historic hostility” to low risk smoking alternatives

Canada calls for transparency as WHO shields tobacco conference from public view

By Gordon Stribling

Canadian delegates were praised for making a stand for transparency after journalists and the public were removed from a World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) conference in Geneva.

The eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8) brought together representatives from around the world to discuss “the future of tobacco control on the road to a healthier and sustainable world.”

Citing concerns about tobacco industry interference, delegates voted to remove journalists and members of the public from the proceedings and plans to livestream the event were scrapped. Canada was the only country to oppose the motion.

The Association of Vapers India (AVI) said: “Canada was told to be ‘flexible’ on the question of banning the public. Canada stuck its ground for transparency. One nation went beyond fear of tobacco industry interference to give people their right to know.”

The International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations (INNCO) were refused observer status, leading to heated debate on social media between tobacco controllers and harm reduction advocates.

The WHO has also faced criticism for its refusal to encourage member states to promote harm reduction as part of their tobacco control policies.

The FCTC’s own definition of ‘tobacco control’ includes “harm reduction strategies that aim to improve the health of a population by eliminating or reducing their consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke.”

The WHO itself has come under criticism for not doing enough to

encourage harm reduction measures on a global scale. Most recently the authors of a new report on the global state of tobacco harm reduction accused the WHO of displaying a, “historic hostility to lower risk alternatives to smoking such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.”

Professor Gerry Stimson of London-based Knowledge Action Change, which commissioned the No Fire, No Smoke report said:

“The WHO ignores its own treaty that obliges signatories to adopt the harm-reduction approach of encouraging safer nicotine products. This is a tragic missed opportunity to stop one billion lives being claimed by smoking this century.”

The report lists the 39 countries where e-cigarettes or nicotine liquids are banned, including Australia, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia.

“In examining the data, it has been striking how closely tied the availability of these substitutes is to plunging smoking rates. Whatever the motivation for countries banning them, they need to realize that such policies make them the tobacco industry’s best friends,” said Harry Shapiro, the lead author of the report.

“The WHO ignores its own treaty … This is a tragic missed opportunity to stop one billion lives being claimed by smoking this century.”

SALT NICS COMING SOON

Marlboro manufacturer

“in talks with” Canadian cannabis grower

Altria is said to have had several meetings with Aphria over possible investment deal

By Gordon Stribling

Marlboro manufacturer Altria is reportedly in talks with Canadian cannabis grower Aphria to acquire a stake in the company. Executives at Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA, have had several meetings with the cannabis grower according to reports.

The Globe and Mail said the tobacco giant was initially looking to acquire a minority stake with the intention of later becoming a majority shareholder.

Aphria confirmed that it engaged in discussions with “potential strategic partners and/or investors from time to time” but added that there was “no agreement, understanding, or arrangement in place with a potential investor at this time.”

The talks were revealed a week before the legalization of cannabis came into effect on October 17.

According to Bloomberg intelligence analyst Kenneth Shea, the tie-in would work as both an offensive and defensive strategic move for Altria.

Shea wrote: “A deal would make Altria a participant in the emerging growth of legal cannabis products in Canada and internationally and establish a critical partner upon possible US federal marijuana legalization.”

Altria are not the first tobacco company to venture into the cannabis industry. Imperial Brands teamed up with alcohol producer Constellation Brands and Snoop Dogg’s Casa Verde Capital venture firm in June to invest in medical cannabis research. In September it was reported that Coca-

Cola had held talks with Aurora Cannabis to produce CBD-infused beverages. Global spending on legal cannabis is expected to reach $57 billion by 2027 with the North American recreational market accounting for 67 percent of that figure.

There is mounting evidence that patients in legal US states are moving away from prescription opiates and onto medical cannabis containing varying levels of CBD and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Medical cannabis is expected to dominate in the EU over the next decade, where government-subsidized healthcare systems have a spending budget of $1.3 trillion.

There is a growing appetite for medicinal cannabis in Europe, particularly in the UK where 45 percent of the world’s medical cannabis is produced.

Following intense public pressure, the UK government permitted specialist doctors to prescribe medical cannabis. However, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has ruled out legalizing cannabis for recreational use.

“A deal would make Altria a participant in the emerging growth of legal cannabis products in Canada and internationally”

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BETTER TOGETHER

The North American Vapor Alliance will work for industry both sides of the border

By Gordon Stribling

A Canadian industry advocacy group has partnered with a US counterpart to form the North American Vapor Alliance (NAVA).

The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) and the American E-liquid Manufacturing Standards Association (AEMSA) announced the partnership in September, with the promise to promote ‘sensible’ cross-border vaping regulations.

The group will push for regulations that strike a balance between encouraging smokers to switch to less-harmful alternatives and ensuring that products meet strict safety standards and do not fall into the hands of youths.

AEMSA president Scott Eley, said: “The key is to get the regulation right so that electronic vapor products meet mandatory professional manufacturing and retail standards, so innovation for new products is incentivized and to ensure that these products are regulated to promote tobacco harm reduction and are not categorized as tobacco products.”

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration continues to crack down heavily on so-called ‘tobacco products’, meanwhile the CVA has developed a positive relationship with Health Canada. CVA president Shaun Casey hopes that their experience of working with public health will benefit the AEMSA in their push to provide guidance to the FDA.

Mr Casey said:

“Canada has already enacted legislation which puts electronic vaping products in a separate category from tobacco products. The Canadian Vaping Association is excited to work with AEMSA as it moves forward developing its Generation 2 standards for e-liquids, e-liquid components, vaporizer hardware, and retail accreditations.”

NAVA accepts membership from all federal regulators and notfor-profit organizations. Members share a commitment to nine regulatory principles that they believe will allow the industry to flourish and clear the path for smokers wanting to use reducedrisk products.

NAVA plans to undertake a ‘best brains exchange’ where representatives from AEMSA will meet with officials in Ottawa and CVA members will travel to San Francisco to meet with the FDA.

Canada’s Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) was enacted on May 23 and many in the US see the act and the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) as blueprints for fair and proportionate industry regulation.

“The key is to get the regulation right to meet mandatory professional manufacturing and retail standards … and to promote tobacco harm reduction.”

DIARY OF A VAPER

My name is Brittany, I’m from Edmonton, Alberta and I’m 28. I started smoking when I was 17, my mom was a heavy smoker and sadly the stress of high school got to me and I picked up my first cigarette two weeks before my winter exams.

I tried quitting multiple times and by using a variety of methods including going cold turkey and using prescribed medication (Champix) but nothing worked for me until I tried vaping.

By the time I decided to try vaping in July of 2017 I had been a pack-a-day smoker for 10 years and I was finally sick of it. I got into vaping just to quit smoking and my original plan was to use it for a few months until I had got the cigarette cravings out of my system and then be done with it all.

As I vaped more, I found that I enjoyed it very much and I loved the vaping community I was becoming part of and the amazing customer service I got from my local shop.

I loved all the flavours I have come across as a vaper and now I vape constantly and love every minute of it. I certainly can’t say that about my time as a smoker. Since I’ve quit smoking and switched to vaping, I have

so much more energy, my asthma has gotten better and I don’t wake up coughing, or short of breath. I’ve lost weight and have my appetite back.

Currently, I’m running a VooPoo Drag 157W with a UWell Nunchaku tank, with a .40 coil. I’ve also enjoyed using a UWell Crown 3 tank and a few SMOK mods and tanks.

My favourite brand of e-liquid right now is Cloudfire. I had the opportunity to meet the creator, his name is Ryan Hjelm, he’s from Ontario. His flavours and the clouds from his liquids are amazing.

The laws that are going around in the US haven’t applied to us or even come before the government (yet). The biggest annoyance I have is that Edmonton recently passed a city by-law which has made vaping inside vape shops illegal (with the exception of sampling) within city limits. This kind of makes it hard to enjoy being there as much as before but I am always excited to see new mods, tanks and e-liquids.

All I can say, is that if people are looking for something to help them quit smoking, I would strongly suggest vaping. It tastes better, in the long run it’s less expensive and it’s a lot of fun.

Featuring Brittany Valentine

By Leo Forfar

David Levesque is a founding partner of Digital Smoke Supplies, a leading distributor of American and Canadian e-liquids.

David entered the vape scene from the garment industry, cutting his teeth as a businessman by specializing in streetwear. It gave him a good eye for separating what’s cool at the moment from what’s timeless.

“I knew there were a lot of great Canadian clothing brands, but the biggest ones were all based in California,” he says. E-liquid, on the other hand, was more localized, with very few American juices coming in, due to a greyer legal and regulatory scene. “My partner in the clothing industry saw it as an opportunity – they were sure that American brands of liquid were the future, that the pattern would cross over.”

David went to the ECC in Ontario, California in 2014 and did his research from there.

“I asked around, knocked on doors, learned who was considered the best, who wasn’t, who was popular for the moment and who was here to stay. I wanted to know what would work for starting my own distribution network.”

The Digital Smoke Supplies team is small but passionate, goal-oriented and always delivers results. David has especially commended his right hand: partner and DSS Manager Pamela Del Rosso (also pictured), who has been by his side from the beginning. “I couldn’t have done it without her.”

With the network growing, it was soon time to launch their own brand. Rope Cut has been a runaway success, with its tobacco flavour picking up blind-tasting awards. David is also proud to own Concord Liquids, which made waves in the summer with a slushy range.

At ECC 2015, David went to a mountaintop house party, where he met the founder of Miami’s World Vape Expo.

“He told me that it’s all about distribution, especially if you’re still at the start-up stage. Juice-making can be very profitable, it can be tempting to lower prices to penetrate the market, but that will harm your distribution. You could have the best product, but

nothing matters until you can reach people.

“A distributor can’t be undercut. They have to sell at the same price the mixer does. After distribution expenses have been tallied with liquids going at an excessively low price, there’s no more money to be made. You never want to end up in this situation.”

In a potential boom period, with brighter days ahead for Canada following the official legalization and legitimization of vaping, it can be tempting to cash in all your chips at once and go as hard as you can. But David emphasized caution and long-term planning as essential but underutilized traits in the vape industry.

“Structuring your business around instant gratification and making a quick buck will be fun in the short term but terrible for your shelflife and longevity. The big names – the ones I looked up to and researched when we were getting started, did things differently. Stick to your guns, get to know what works, and know that a longer journey means a proper payoff and a permanent place in this business.”

David is cautiously optimistic about the future of Canadian vaping. New successes mean new battles and regulation on the horizon, but it looks like the industry will be stronger now and better able to fight whatever comes its way.

“Obviously it’s great to see vaping legalized and legitimized by the government, and to see Health Canada acknowledge it. We’re also going to see lots of new brands rise up and come in. It’ll be interesting to see where they go.”

“Stick to your guns, get to know what works, and know that a longer journey means a proper payoff and a permanent place in this business”

Growing pains: The future of marijuana and vaping in Canada

By Leo Forfar

Since October 17, recreational marijuana is legal in Canada, but key products for a potential THC vaping industry remain blacklisted.

Health Canada has omitted edibles and cannabis concentrates from the upcoming legalization. The latter are used in e-cigarettes for consumption via vaping. Health Canada have defended this omission ahead of a one-year period “for the development of specific regulations to address the unique risks posed by these product classes.”

Though businesses are, as always, frustrated by the slow and sometimes overcautious pace of reform, they have been eagerly awaiting the date where trade is fully legalized. A boom period is expected, and Canada hopes to become a world leader in the marijuana trade, with first-year sales expected to exceed five billion dollars despite restrictions.

It is not surprising to see an extra restraint placed on vaping. But this piece hopes to explore what the regulatory and political landscape will bring on the (inevitable) day legalization comes.

Though it will be widely celebrated, business owners and vaping advocates need to be aware that legalization of vaporized marijuana will only be the beginning of its troubles. A new dimension and

In times of political change, vaping will find new challenges and opportunities. Businesses must brace for both.

frontier of expansion for the vape trade will see new legal and oppositional cans of worms opened.

In this business, it’s never over. Even in countries where vaping has been legal for a while and the industry is thriving, it is constantly besieged by both well-meaning but misguided action, and outright sabotage.

A lot of friction has come from the cut and paste approach tobacco control initiatives and groups apply to vaping. The most common line of attack lazily conflates nicotine with tobacco in a simplified pipeline or “gateway effect,” with tobacco control groups accusing the industry of getting children hooked first on its own products and later on smoking.

For years, marijuana was the defining face of the gateway effect, with decades of propaganda telling us outright that it would lead to harder, lethal drugs.

Vaporizers being used for marijuana use will attach additional baggage – namely, the baggage of moralizing and panics we’ve seen hurled at the drug for decades. This has an overseas knock-on-effect to consider. Vapers in less marijuana-friendly countries will also need to brace themselves for a slew of new, unpleasant accusations about the activity. For example, in parts of the US, where the drug remains heavily demonized, we should expect the charge of vaping as an “enabler of pot use” to be raised at some point.

Packaging restrictions will be another hurdle. The European Market is still recovering from the TPD and will undoubtedly see new regulation as CBD steps up and experts begin to mull treating mods as medical products.

In such a market, it’s only a matter of time before certain THC concentrates are marketed using rhetoric and branding styles associated with vaping. The Cannabis Act 2018 will prohibit the kind of flash and flair that made e-liquid and mod packaging what it is today; outlawing fluorescent and metallic colours, keeping label and packaging backgrounds the same colour, and limiting artwork to one brand name and one additional “brand element” such as a slogan or logo, with limitations on size.

But by far the biggest potential headache lies in the redefinition of vaping’s purpose and function, its mission.

Unlike smoking or alcohol, vaping comes to us in the wake of a huge shift in consciousness concerning public health. The midto-late twentieth century saw an uptick in lung cancer cases and an indisputable rush of evidence linking it to cigarette smoking. It’s difficult to imagine smoking reaching its lofty heights in business and popular culture had we known the full extent of its effects at

the time. For these reasons, in order to gain traction in the eyes of the public, any product facilitating nicotine consumption has to ingratiate itself to the authorities on public health. The general public get most of their information from headlines, the majority of which have been unfair to the vaping industry.

So, with public health as the wedge the vaping industry must use for mainstream acceptance, smokers and non-smokers must view vaping primarily as a tool for smoking cessation and a viable weapon against tobacco.

A parallel can be found in the UK, where the recent rise of CBD and its foray into the vaping market has given certain business owners pause. Pushing vapour products as recreational and not facilitators of harm reduction is risky in a world where so much hinges on public image and public health.

But this is by no means a condemnation of diversifying vaping, through marijuana or any other way. There’s nothing inherently wrong with adding an extra dimension to the public image of the e-cigarette. The versatility of this industry is one of many things that sets it apart from tobacco – it has an inherently social element which drives creativity.

But here, vaping has another saving grace: the superiority of mods as delivery devices, especially for users suffering chronic pain. As a leading tool in the fight against tobacco harm, the e-cigarette is peerless in its ability to give that quick and potent nicotine hit. This has been adapted to deliver CBD and THC for those who need it. Recreational vaping will not be treated so harshly if advocates can remind the public and powers-that-be of how many people benefit from the phenomenon. The tide is turning everywhere in the developed world; in the UK, the recent cases of Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley prompted swift reform allowing easier access to prescription cannabis oils.

In changing times, the vaping industry must uphold its image for innovating and leading. Marketers may be able to develop a narrative of promoting both medicinal or recreational marijuana use as providing better hits without the risks of combustibility. Though making predictions with certainty is a fool’s game in the vape trade, businesses and advocates can look to their victories for inspiration, especially on the legal and regulatory front. The story so far reveals the value of vaping through smoking cessation and a far safer conduit for nicotine. The pleasure element, though important, has significantly less political clout. The rise of the marijuana vaporizer should not be stigmatized or downplayed but embraced as both and a new challenge and opportunity.

“Though it will be widely celebrated, business owners and vaping advocates need to be aware that legalization of vaporized marijuana will only be the beginning of its troubles.”

UNDER THE INFLUENCE UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Campaign looks to recruit social media influencers

By Gordon Stribling

“Canadians look for information from a variety of sources, and youth in particular are more likely to engage with other influencers beyond government, or health professionals”

“Canadians look for information from a variety of sources, and youth in particular are more likely to engage with other influencers beyond government, or health professionals”

Social media influencers divide opinion. To the sceptic, they represent everything that is wrong with the much-maligned millennial generation. They preen and pose in front of the camera before posting their filtered shots to Instagram and caption them with lofty but meaningless hashtags like #wellpreneur. The fact that influencers can make a decent living out of doing seemingly very little at all adds further fuel to their detractors’ disdain. But to many, they represent opportunity and, dare I say, #inspiration and for every wouldbe reality TV star there are countless industry experts who have achieved success through tireless work and commitment to their passion. Now, as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the risks vaping could present to underage teenagers and young adult non-smokers, Health Canada is looking to recruit a contractor who, among other duties, will be tasked with finding social media influencers who can reach their target demographic.

A Health Canada spokesperson said: “Canadians look for information from a variety of sources, and youth in particular are more likely to engage with other influencers beyond government, or health professionals.”

The impact of social media campaigning on people’s health-related life choices was investigated in a 2016 Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) study. It found that 59 percent of participants followed social influencers on social media platforms while 32 percent of participants said that influencers motivated them to make healthier food choices.

The potential for influencers to raise awareness in public health campaigns was demonstrated the following year by a team at Queen’s University Belfast. The aim of the study was to see whether social media could be an effective intervention tool in skin cancer prevention.

Researchers began by tweeting from a skin cancer charity’s twitter account and influencers with a notable following were then asked to retweet campaign content.

Overall, the campaign reached more than 23 percent of Northern Ireland’s population. An online survey suggested that the campaign may have raised awareness of skin cancer and improved attitudes among the target population.

This Health Canada campaign is a step towards achieving the TVPA’s goal of preventing young people and non-smokers from using e-cigarettes. But while teenagers and non-smokers should be discouraged from trying e-cigarettes, the campaign feels like more of a PR exercise that uses Big Tobacco-style tactics to change the public’s perception of vaping.

This message certainly appeals to Marion Wright, executive director of Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services. “[Vaping] will lose its coolness, especially if there are more restrictions put on it and something else will probably pop up.”

According to the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey 2016-17, 23 percent of students in grades 7-12 had at some point tried an e-cigarette. However, only 10 percent

had used an e-cigarette within the past 30 days. The survey did not distinguish between long-term users and those who only tried vaping on one or a handful of occasions, so it’s likely that far fewer than 10 percent of students could be classed as regular vapers.

Data specific to the young adults in Canada is difficult to obtain as it tends to overlap with school-age user statistics. However, in the UK, research by Action for Smoking and Health (ASH) found that adults who had never smoked only accounted for around 10 percent of the vaping population.

While Health Canada has acknowledged that vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help smokers quit, this campaign risks undermining the potential benefits of formally regulating and encouraging adult smokers to vape instead.

Health Canada may be targeting teenagers and young non-smokers, but they will have to strike a difficult balance. Social media is not the preserve of the young.

Influencers will need to demonstrate nuance if they hope to deter their young followers from vaping without putting off smokers from making the switch. And nuance is increasingly hard to come by in this digital age.

To those sceptical of Health Canada’s motivations, this campaign will provide further evidence that the TVPA was more of an anti-vaping measure than a formal acknowledgement of the benefits of vaping for smoking-cessation. Teenagers and never-smokers are far less likely to vape than smokers, yet they remain the focus of the government’s campaigns. Perhaps they should consider looking to the UK to see what impact a vape-positive message can have on the lives of smokers.

These are decided in a blind taste test by independent judges

These awards are decided solely by a public vote online

These are decided by independent judges

These awards are decided by Vapouround

On Premium Level

First of all, you must be really proud of how much your company has achieved. We hear you recently celebrated another anniversary?

Yes – it’s been an amazing four years. We have come a long way and really look forward to what’s coming next. Our new state of the art equipment with our second Canadian lab will allow us to pump out juice within one to two business days and all retail orders out same day. It’s a big challenge when regulations and specifications change with each country we deal with so it is challenging with so many to stay on top of. We also have a few great new lines coming down the pipeline as well. It’s really amazing to make great juice that keeps growing in popularity after almost four years, which is rare in this industry.

What, for you, would be the stand out moments of the last few years?

The best moments have been all the awards we have won and getting to the top, along with the great team I have built. It has been a challenge, but I have got a great team to take us to the next level.

Did you ever anticipate where things are at now?

I pinch myself every day and am so grateful to be able to help people and offer a great product, [it] leaves me almost speechless and to have such amazing customers and wholesale and distributors as partners all over the world. Coming from nothing and having to work so hard to get here is really a surreal feeling.

Tell us about the salt nics and Ever Cloud menthol lines.

We have released the largest range of nic salts available on the market. It’s astonishing how salt nics have taken off so fast. Especially our menthol line and our signature mix nix which is for all vaporizers drippers, sub-ohm and pod systems and it’s flying off the shelves. [It] feels great to see a new innovative product I made keep people off cigarettes more so than nic salts alone.

Premium Liquid Labs is renowned, and not just here in Canada, for excellence in quality. How do you achieve this on a consistent level?

Our testing process is second to none and I have a trusted right hand man Brett, aka Ziggy, who is very thorough on testing and consistency which has really helped while I deal with running the company along with a great team who knows the product inside out. I really stress on testing the product via testing machines and physically with numerous Premium Labs professionals meaning people know the product inside out.

What is your goal for the next 12 months and beyond?

Building a solid team from such a rapid growth, that’s the toughest, and we have some really amazing and innovative stuff coming in the near future as well as some great partnerships to take it to the next level.

Premium Liquid Labs, Inc. President Sam Boucher on being an industry leader in Canada and around the world

What was your reaction to the TVPA and how do you see it panning out?

I think they really need to focus on manufacturing and doing it right as well as putting vapers first since quitting smoking has had so many positives for the UK and has saved the healthcare system billions in such a short time. Which in turn helps the people and country in general, but over all it does need work. I hope they turn to the vaping community and work together towards a positive outcome.

What’s the day to day running of the company like?

Premium Liquid Labs employs 90-100 people internationally. My goal was to work and be efficient and lean and we are achieving that goal. Our facility is top of the line with all the proper equipment for manufacturing and testing. Heath Canada came buy and were impressed with the size and the equipment we were using to ensure our product maintains top quality.

What is the best thing about being at the helm of a company like Premium Liquid Labs in the vaping industry?

The best thing is being able to help the consumer achieve their goal of quitting smoking and turn to a great quality product. I would really like to thank all of my loyal and new customers who can appreciate our company and product. I started this company to help people and be the best, it’s not about making a dollar. The gratification I get from emails daily of doing good for someone really makes me feel good and there’s no price you can put on that.

THE QUICK FIRE ROUND

What are you vaping right now?

Premium Labs gold mix nix on our signature series line.

What are you most excited about in the industry? I’m excited to see how the regulations evolve and it’s such a quick changing industry so I’m ready for it and look forward to what’s next. As well, we have an amazing new product that will take the world by storm.

How many hours do you think you work in a week? 24 hours a day (lol) I work all day and all night though I do get some sleep. Being all over the world, I’m always on call, I guess that’s why we call it Dr Fog.

What has been your most memorable expo experience?

I really enjoyed the Toronto CVE in 2017. It was great show and I got to meet a lot of my partners I work with as well as all of the of juice makers and their team and the people that helped me get to where I am at. To be honest, I haven’t had a bad show. I meet a lot of great people from all over the world from distros, wholesalers, retailers, and customers all really have been great. It’s been an honour to be able to talk and interface with such great people in the industry.

Do you have a favourite travel destination that work has led you to?

Nothing beats Vancouver. It’s home, but Dubai was amazing.

“It’s a big challenge when regulations and specifications change

with each country we deal with.”

VAPE DINNER LADY SPONSOR THE VAPOUROUND AWARDS 2019

CLASSIC BRITISH BAKES VAPE BRAND COOK UP A SENSATIONAL TREAT FOR ALL FOR THE INDUSTRY’S NEXT BIG NIGHT

It’s here. 2019 has arrived and newsflash! We’re already gearing up for the fourth annual Vapouround Awards. As the curtain fell on last May’s celebration, Vape Dinner Lady claimed the title as the 2019 sponsor and we couldn’t be happier to have such a classic and renowned brand at our side as we set the stage for the vape industry’s biggest night of the year.

Vape Dinner Lady is no stranger to the Vapouround Awards, having taken home the trophy for Best E-liquid in 2018, one of many accolades given to the bestselling and much-loved Lemon Tart. Vape Dinner Lady also took home an award in the Industry Leader category.

And a leader they have certainly been. Vape Dinner Lady made headlines across the mainstream media earlier this year when the announcement came that their liquids were to be sold in Asda, a well-known superstore chain in the UK. Now, months later, Vape Dinner Lady juices can be found in over 500 Asda stores nationwide.

Never complacent, they have remained in talks with other major retailers, eager to stay at the forefront of vaping’s growing profile in mainstream culture.

Their recently-settled new headquarters – complete with luxury features, like the authentic beach hut last spotted at the Vaper Expo UK – has seen visitors from The Guardian and The Huffington Post newspapers, no doubt eager to learn more.

Vape Dinner Lady’s liquids are now sold in eighty countries.

It’s been quite a challenge for the team, but one they’ve met with pride. New duties, new markets and new products has given them room to welcome new faces. Vape Dinner Lady now employs over 100 people, up from 60 last year. With all this talk of newness, what better time to talk about Vape Dinner Lady honoring their own Vaper Expo UK traditions by unveiling and launching a new range of CBD products at Europe’s biggest vape show. This lofty position has made them something of an ambassador to the mainstream, where a still unreached mass of smokers yet to discover vaping reside.

Providing the vaping consumer base and business owners with must-have products is one thing, taking a more proactive role in smoking cessation is something else. A spokesman for the company said that they are stepping up efforts to reach these people by increasing their involvement in quitting initiatives. “We’ve been strongly driven towards helping more people quit recently. It’s very important to us.”

A stop smoking-related e-book, published on their site, reached over 400,000 people in less than 24 hours.

It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of numbers and statistics in this trade, but the company has maintained its personability and consumer friendliness throughout a meteoric rise, which was aided by the recognition they received at the Vapouround Awards ceremony.

“We hold the Vapouround Awards in very high regard,”

said a company spokesman. “It was one of the first awards we ever won and since then, we have always wanted to be a part of this very high standard.”

As for why they deepened our partnership, the answer was clear: “Vapouround’s reputation speaks for itself. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this?”

Vape Dinner Lady have thoroughly enjoyed their experiences at the awards, rubbing shoulders with their peers, united in the knowledge that we’re all doing what’s best for both the industry and the ongoing fight against cigarette smoking.

“The awards really set the standard for the vaping industry. There is always a lot of great vaping companies featured at the event and just to be a

part of that is an honor within itself. We believe that Vapouround and Vape Dinner Lady share the same values when it comes to quality and setting high standards. We are very selective in who we sponsor and only wish to associate with like-minded companies who are passionate as we are about shaping the industry’s future.”

Vape Dinner Lady’s entire identity is tied to creating and recreating fond memories, mostly through their flavours. The Vapouround Awards also captures this duality: it both honors the best of the year and stands alone as an unmissable event.

“The Vapouround Awards has great reach and status which helps us achieve our ultimate aim –to make people smile through a nostalgic experience.”

“VAPOUROUND’S REPUTATION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS?”

WHAT PAST WINNERS HAVE TO SAY:

“The night was one to remember and all the staff had a great time. Ashley and Johnnie made the night as always with their crazy antics and witty humour. I think everyone was blown away with the fantastic magic show and the hilarious comedian that had us all in stitches. We were very thankful for winning the award for Best Menthol again. Thanks again for a fantastic evening and well done to all the other winners. This industry wouldn’t be what it is today without you all so keep up the good work, continue to keep making great liquids and good luck to everyone in the future.”

“It’s been a tough journey but a memorable one, with many hurdles along the way. Winning the Best Branding and Marketing award two years running was an honour but winning the Industry Leader is really special as it shows our hard work is paying dividend and being recognised within the industry. I would like to thank everyone for voting Nasty Juice. This is just the beginning as we have some very exciting and amazing projects ahead of us. To all our resellers and fans out there, watch this space. Nasty got the juice.”

“This really is the highlight of the vape industry calendar and we’re incredibly proud to be recognised here, at such a high-profile international event. The fact that this particular award is voted for by consumers – and in such huge numbers – is the icing on the cake for us. Lemon Tart, as with all our juices, is about flavour quality and user enjoyment.”” –

Mo Patel.

“It was our first time attending the Vapouround Awards and it was really awesome. The food was lovely and the whole night was joyful. We enjoyed it very much and appreciate Vapouround giving us a chance to be known and recognised by more people. Also, thanks to the Usonicig team who worked hard behind this. It is they who worked out the brilliant vaping device that does not require coil and brings the industry a safer and better vaping experience. We hope we can come again next year and win the first place of the innovation award.”

Vape Dinner Lady Founder,

Vampire Vape – Official Sponsors of the Vapouround Awards 2018

Nasty Juice – Best Branding/Marketing and Industry Leader 2018

Vape Dinner Lady – Juice of the Year 2018 and official sponsor 2019

Usonicig – Outstanding Contribution to the Vape Industry 2018

By Gordon Stribling

This nation prides itself on its progressive approach to public health. In June, we became the second country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “The current prohibition of marijuana has not worked to protect our kids, to keep the money out of the pockets of organized crime and that’s why we’re bringing in a new legalized framework around marijuana.”

The furore surrounding the announcement overshadowed another progressive harm-reduction initiative that has been welcomed by the country’s growing vaping industry.

On World Tobacco Day on May 31, Health Canada launched its Tobacco Strategy, pledging to commit $330m over the next five years to help Canadians quit smoking or ‘reduce the harms of their addiction to nicotine.’ The strategy would also seek to prevent young people and non-smokers

from being exposed to tobacco. The announcement followed the implementation of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) that passed the week before. Health Canada has now formally acknowledged that vaping products are a less-harmful alternative to smoking.

Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said: “Through this strategy and the new Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, we can help people who use tobacco to stop and we can discourage others from starting. We are committed to the next phase of our work, which aims to drive down tobacco use by Canadians to less than five percent by 2035.”

It is an unfortunate reality that smoking disproportionately impacts upon marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community and indigenous peoples. The Tobacco Strategy will focus on these groups as well as on young adults.

The Tobacco Strategy aims to reduce the smoking rate to below five percent by 2035

$330 M OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO HELP CANADIANS QUIT SMOKING

In a review of 21 sources, researchers found a considerable disparity of smoking prevalence between people who identify at LGBTQ+ and the rest of the population.

A range between 33 and 45 percent was observed compared to an average of 18.9 percent for nonLGBTQ+ people.

The explanations for the disparity are many and complex, encompassing victimization, discrimination and harassment, high incidence of mental health problems and historic and pernicious targeted marketing by the tobacco industry.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Paediatric Society estimates that smoking rates among Canadian indigenous groups are at least three-times higher than their non-indigenous peers.

Much like the LGBTQ+ community, indigenous peoples are subject to a perfect storm of smoking indicators, including mental health problems, gambling addiction, low income and high levels of alcohol consumption. Indigenous people typically start smoking from as young as 12.

It’s important to note that tobacco is used ceremonially among some indigenous communities, though it is not inhaled, meaning that it is considerably less harmful than recreational tobacco smoking. Tobacco Strategy initiatives will focus solely on recreational users who are subjected to the myriad medical conditions that befall smokers around the world.

On June 22, Health Canada launched public consultations on the proposed introduction of plain and standardized packaging for tobacco products. The consultations will run until September 6 and members of the public are encouraged to share their views.

Plain packaging has already been implemented in more than 15 countries, including the UK, France and Australia. However, it has not been without controversy. The tobacco giants lobbied

heavily against the introduction of plain packaging, arguing that standardized labelling would lead to widespread counterfeiting and negatively impact upon tobacco retailers.

In response to the proposed introduction of plain packaging in Canada, Eric Gagnon, head of corporate and regulatory affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada, said:

“We still cannot understand how this government can justify legalizing marijuana while imposing such extreme measures on tobacco products. We feel that the discrepancy is really astonishing.”

While the tobacco industry has questioned the effectiveness of plain packaging on encouraging smokers to quit, proponents argue that it succeeds in its primary goal of reducing the likelihood that young people take up the habit in the first place.

Seasoned smokers are brand-loyal but young people, including those under the legal age, are susceptible to branding. Researched conducted by ASH in the UK found there was a four-year increase in the proportion of young people who felt aware of new pack designs, an increase from 11 percent in 2002 to 18 percent in 2006.

By removing branding altogether, the Tobacco Strategy’s goal of reducing youth uptake could be more effectively achieved.

This has been a big year for Canada’s vaping industry and the Tobacco Strategy and the proposed implementation of plain packaging could further help the nation stub out smoking for good.

ASK THE SCIENTIST

What is salt-based nicotine?

By Richard Cunningham, Ph.D

Nicotine salts have emerged as a leading trend this year, with an increasing number of e-liquid manufacturers trying their hand at ‘nic salts’. What do you know about them and their chemical make up? Where does the salt come from? Here’s a myth-buster, you won’t find it in your kitchen.

Nicotine is found naturally in the tobacco leaf and exists in a salt-form but this particular salt is unsuitable for vaping.

GENERIC STRUCTURE OFA NICOTINE SALT

N

xH

N

(Nicotine ‘free-base’)

To isolate nicotine from the tobacco leaf, it is first converted to its free-base form and is then extracted using a solvent.

It’s this free-base nicotine that is most commonly used for vaping, however the rate of nicotine absorption versus a combustible cigarette is lower. This is possibly due to the larger particle size of the vapour compared to an ash cloud and not being able to penetrate as deeply within the lung, where the most rapid nicotine uptake occurs.

When vaped, nicotine is absorbed in the nose, mouth, throat, mucosal membranes, and the alveoli. Through experimental investigation it has been found that certain nicotine formulations with organic acids when vaped gave comparable nicotine hits to cigarettes by monitoring heart rate, user reported satisfaction and measuring blood plasma nicotine levels of test participants. In addition, these formulations showed improved stability and a reduced throat hit when compared to the free-base nicotine used most commonly by vapers.

Dr

In the late 1950s to early 1960s, companies began adding ammonia or diammonium phosphate to improve the flavour of cigarettes.

In reality, this created a nicotine ‘freebase’ which when smoked, gives a stronger hit through more rapid absorption into the bloodstream and therefore user satisfaction, leading to dominance across the tobacco market for decades.

(Nicotine benzoate salt)

This is why some believe nic salts could be more useful for smokers trying to quit as there is a more comparable nicotine hit and feeling of satisfaction to that of cigarettes when making the switch to vaping. One such formulation is nicotine benzoate salt, which is formed by the addition of benzoic acid to nicotine. This is what is used in the popular JUUL device.

About the author:

This ‘salt’ is not to be confused with table salt!

Richard Cunningham has a Ph.D in medicinal chemistry from Queen’s University Belfast where he also worked as postdoctoral researcher for a number of years before working in the US at the Mitchell Cancer Institute in Alabama. Among his areas of expertise are organic synthesis, nucleosides, nucleotides, cellular biology, vitamins, aminoglycosides, drug delivery, phosphorous chemistry and chemical analysis. He is now the director of quality control at Liquid Sciences LLC.

Thesurfacearea ofthelungalveoli canbethesame asatenniscourt.

DIDYOUKNOW

VAPING DEAD

The gritty short FIlm is a call to arms for vapers around the world

By Gordon Stribling

It’s coming up to a year since our interview with director Christy Oldham introduced our UK readers to the three-part sci-fi/action flick, Vape Warz. And prior to that there was A Billion Lives – the highly-acclaimed documentary that set the blueprint for on-screen vaping activism.

Now, a new short film that straddles the line between activism and entertainment is making waves throughout the vaping world and beyond.

The Vaping (Not) Dead is the brainchild of Dominique Aubert, a French vaper, director and documentary-maker with a background in the vaping industry and a passion for harm-reduction. The eightminute short film is his most ambitious and creative project yet

“I have been a producer and director for a long time, especially for corporate documentaries,” Dominique said. “But I have never worked on a project of this magnitude before.”

The film’s title should give you an idea of its inspiration and what to expect to see on-screen. Namely, plenty of blood and violence.

It tells the story of a legion of vapers and their battle for their freedom to vape. Among them, a shop-worker, a manufacturer and YouTuber, all proud vapers who, together, stand up against the tobacco industry and vaping’s other detractors.

“Mickael Hammoudi, the founder of French vape federation FIVAPE, is a friend of mine,” Dominique said. “We are both fans of The Walking Dead and one day he said to me, ‘what if we could make something like that one day, except on the theme of vaping?’”

The end result is about more than entertainment. The Tarantinesque violence and dark humour are vehicles for an important message: vaping is under attack and it’s up to us to defend it, wherever in the world we find ourselves.

“We are relatively lucky in France and the United Kingdom thanks to the actions of our activists and medical professionals,” Dominique said. “But there are countries where selling vape products or just being a vaper could have you sent to jail; countries where vaping is prohibited even in vaping shops, countries where the tobacco industry is so powerful that it dictates its laws to the rulers.”

With so much evidence on our side and so much at stake, the fight can be frustrating.

Dominique continued:

“At times, this corruption is so visible that I would be laughing if the consequences weren’t so damaging to the millions of smokers who could have been saved by vaping.”

Thanks in part to funding from within the industry and donations from private citizens, the film features impressive production values backed-up by a technical team comprised entirely of vapers.

“For the rest of the team, we had Michael Hammoudi, Pascal Henriot and Laurent Caffarel, one the founders of SOVAPE. We relied upon our vaping friends to find fifty volunteers who were each given their specific role to play.”

Dominique is proud to have created such a professional film that breaks new ground for vaping advocacy. An 8K Ultra HD fiction short with an important message, all, incredibly filmed in just one day.

“As we were looking at the storyboard on the day before the filming, the technical team and the main actor, Jean Marie Lamour, thought I was a mad man for trying to make the whole thing in a day. But we did it!”

The film has already picked up significant traction since the Global Forum of Nicotine (GFN) in Warsaw, Poland where Dominique was rewarded with a gong for Best Director.

Aaron Biebert, director of A Billion Lives and curator of the film festival, informed Dominique of the award by text message.

“I was in the middle of the historic city of Warsaw when a friend present at the conference sent me an SMS saying, ‘where are you? You won!’

“I was truly astonished. I was so happy for the whole team, because this film is above all the work of a team of passionate vapers.”

The hope now is for the film to be picked up and screened at other vaping events in France and beyond. In the meantime, it’s available for vapers to stream for free and share via Facebook and YouTube.

As for what’s next, keep your eyes on the silver screen for more from Dominique in 2019.

“See you next year for a new bigger, longer and stronger film.”

“

At times, this corruption is so visible that I would be laughing if the consequences weren t so damaging to the millions of smokers who could have been saved by vaping”

VAPOUROUND’S NEXT TOP MOD-EL

It was a long, hard road spanning over a year, but @fku_life outlasted 19 other competitors en-route to becoming the first winner of Vapouround’s Next Top Mod-el.

Sponsors and this issue’s cover stars Premium Labs wanted to find a new face to use in promotional material for their products and the winner would get a professional photoshoot and feature in Vapouround Magazine.

The entry requirements were simple: strike a pose with a mod in your hand in any way you see fit. Entrants posted their best images with the hashtag #VapouroundModel to show the wider world the best side of our community.

Vapers are unafraid to speak their minds, engage with the causes they care about and rally around those they admire, and this contest brought out the best in them.

It may be a cliché, but we were spoiled for choice from the beginning, always impressed at the diversity and stylistic flair of the people who love vaping.

The man who took the crown was @fku_life. Often, a picture says a thousand words, and his are no exception. He is intimately connected to the vape trade and has the multi-platform online following to prove it.

Though there could only be one winner, the competition was a huge success for the community. All of our entries showed the mainstream how varied and creative we are and how supportive vapers can be.

PREMIUMLABS.COM

Q&A:

Jason Monti of Vape Conventions

An interview with the man bringing vape expos to the up and coming corners of the global market.

The city of Asunción, Paraguay will host Vape South America in an effort to spread the reach of vaping in the region. Organizers Vape Conventions have described their mission as holding expos and conventions anywhere “there is a high demand for premium e-liquids, hardware and wholesale suppliers, but [not yet] any access to these products and services.” As media partner, Vapouround caught up with Jason Monti to talk about global markets and upcoming shows.

Q: How and why did you get into the business of event management? What is it about the e-cigarette industry that compelled you to run vaping events?

A: Like most people, I was a long-time smoker – 25 plus years and had tried everything to quit. In 2015 I tried vaping as a way to quit and never looked back. By October that year I got into the industry.

I was working in financial services when I became interested in a career change. I reached out to a few e-liquid companies that I found online and asked if I can try to sell their liquids to any shops in my area that weren’t carrying them. After meeting with some shop owners, I was introduced to Zach at East Coast Vape Distribution. We hit it off immediately and found a few projects to work on together.

In late 2016, Zach had the idea to host a trade show in Medellín, Colombia. Zach has a business partner in Medellín that owns a call centre and had visited Medellín a few times. He thought the timing was right for the market. We started planning for our first vape expo in Medellín in early 2017 and announced in March 2017 for a September 1 show date. That show was a success in that it introduced our industry to an ignored audience.

Q: Are there any Vape Conventions milestones or achievements you are particularly proud of?

A: We hosted our second show in Medellín this past May only eight months after the first and were amazed at how much the market had grown and how sophisticated it had become in such a short period of time. We hosted Vape Scandinavia in Copenhagen, Denmark this past July as well. Denmark recently announced that they were easing restrictions on vaping and we thought it was a great market to do an event in. We now have five events on the books for 2019 and will be adding one or two more.

Q: Why host such an event in Paraguay?

A: When we held our first event in Medellín, we had asked all the attendees and vendors where they would like to do a show in South America and Paraguay kept coming up. We didn’t know much about the market at the time but after looking into it and studying it, we realised that Paraguay has a sophisticated vape scene and has been used as an entry point for distribution into its neighbouring countries that have restrictions like Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. This is the place to make contacts to do business in those countries as well as support Paraguay’s strong vape business.

Q: Do you have any comments on the growth and potential of the e-cigarette industry in South America in general?

A: The thing that we’re most excited about is the upward potential of South America. We will plan more shows in new countries as well. Peru and Costa Rica are on our radar and we plan on hosting shows there in the next 12 to 14 months. If what’s happened in Colombia is an indicator of what this continent can look like, it’s very exciting to see where we’ll be in two to three years.

Q: What can a vape company hope to gain by attending Vape South America?

A: Meeting local consumers and business owners from the region that still have a passion for this industry. We have vendors from our past shows that are doing very well in South America and it’s where they’ve seen the most growth internationally.

Q: What exactly have you needed to adapt in order to run shows in places like Scandinavia and South America?

A: We had Vape South America first and what we learned from doing both is that each region and culture is different in terms of how you market to them and what they want to see at an expo.

Q: What should our readers know about the future projects of Vape Conventions?

A: Vape South America, Paraguay will be a great opportunity for our vendors to do real business in South America. We will be back in Medellín in May 2019 and we have doubled our floor space based on this past year’s show.

Vape Conventions has a packed calendar of events in 2019, including:

Vape South America, Paraguay, Jan 26-27

Vape North America, Toronto, March 2-3

Vape South America, Medellín, May 25-26

Vape Barcelona Expo, Barcelona, July 6-7

Vape Scandinavia, Copenhagen, Sept 21-22

“Each region and culture is different in terms of how you market to them and what they want to see at an expo.”

BY DAVID TURNER

VAPOUROUND CANADA LAUNCHES AT CANADA’S VAPE EXPO TORONTO, JUNE 22-24

Judging by the response of the previous expo, the anticipation for Canada’s Vape Expo 2018 was high.

Promoted as “the biggest vape event Canada has ever seen,” both consumers and businesses were itching at the chance to attend the next show in June.

It wasn’t our first visit to Toronto or even this specific expo. But this trip was different. Paul Caplin and I were like children on Christmas Eve as we introduced Canada’s vaping community to its newest vape publication, Vapouround Canada.

I was arriving with positive recollections from last year, with hopes to continue them through the show, and after a very long journey starting at Heathrow, London, stopping off in Lisbon, Portugal for a changeover before reaching Canada, I am pleased to report that this is exactly what followed.

When June 22 arrived, Charlie Pistano and his team’s hard work began to show. Walking into the expo I was immediately immersed in an atmosphere of the unknown. The effort that had been put into it was evident and clearly demonstrated throughout the show itself. The size of the show made this even more impressive. Working my way through the stands was pleasingly simple, as sometimes at bigger shows it is difficult to navigate your way around, but the well thought out floorplan prevented any confusion over the weekend.

It was excellent to see a range of exhibitors from all around the

world. This provided us with the opportunity to catch up with brands like Transistor and their awesome boss Shuk, which is always a pleasure. I VG captured the show by being the first overseas company to win an award at a Canada show. They claimed the ‘Best Sweet In Show’ award with their renowned Bubblegum Millions juice.

There was certainly some, you could say, interesting entertainment on the second day courtesy of Classic E-juice creating a stir on stage leaving guests with unforgettable memories.

Arguably one of the most notable aspects of the show was the launch of Vapouround Canada and there was a lot of buzz around the new magazine from faces both new and familiar. This is one of the newest aspects of Vapouround and the first issue is being released in August. We at Vapouround are extremely excited to be growing into the ever-expanding market in the Canadian vape industry. With this, we hope to achieve new relationships and continue to build on our existing ones. The preview edition unveiled at CVE proved to be a big hit, revving the excitement of those of those in attendance.

Being based at the Pacific Smoke International stand was favourable as I was allowed to catch up with the lovely Rich and Sam who were situated there. At the moment, vaping in Canada may be seen as a bit of a taboo subject with the unknown implications of the Tobacco and Vaping. At the moment, vaping in Canada may be seen as a bit of a taboo subject with the unknown implications of the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA), much like Europe faced a few years ago. This, however, did not dampen the mood at CVE. The upbeat nature of the show reinforced the view that Canada will get through this time of ambiguity and obscurity. We as a company are looking forward to many Canadian vape events planned for the coming year. Until next time Toronto!

3 NEW FLAVOURS

Quantum - A grape energy drink mixed with refreshing lemon sweet tea

Fruity Flakes - Sugary flakes combined with a hint of berries blended together with a light cream

Mojito - A crisp lemon/Lime complemented perfectly by a light mint

BY ANNABELLE TURNER

INTERSTEAM BERLIN, GERMANY. JUNE 22-24

It was a little unusual, at least on first glance, to discover that the Friday business to business day began at 3pm and went on until 10pm. And while this may seem strange it was actually very well thought out. The idea was that by starting and finishing late, smaller businesses attending the event would not have to close for the entire day. So unusual for sure but certainly very clever.

The people of Berlin were very welcoming indeed and the weather was very pleasant throughout the duration of the show. Friday was perhaps a little quieter than might have been expected but the World Cup may have had something to do with that. However, in keeping up with the German stereotype of efficiency, Friday, although quiet, was smooth and successful.

Moving forward to the Saturday. The numbers of people attending the show picked up and giveaways were a prominent source of entertainment and excitement throughout the day. Vapers, the world over, do love the opportunity of getting their hands on some cool freebies. Another notable feature of the expo was the outdoor area overseeing the River Spree. Intersteam took full advantage of the sunny climate with its outdoor entertainment on stage, featuring the one and only Ashley from Strawberry Queen. It was lovely to see such a familiar face at the expo. The outdoor space was also put to good use to entertain visitors as they waited in line for the doors to open and as the Arena Halle venue overlooked the river, it was great to take advantage of this feature.

In comparison to Saturday, Sunday was noticeably quieter, and the combination of great weather plus the distraction of the World Cup contributed to this. Intersteam Berlin is a quality vape expo and those who attended certainly enjoyed the experience. The layout of the expo was clear and easy to follow making it effortless finding the exhibitors you needed to see. Just as always, it was lovely to see some of the UK brands situated around the arena such as Vampire Vape, Vape Duty Free and Eco Vape, as well as some of the well-known German based brands like Twisted and Bozz. On top of this, we met some newer German brands which we had not dealt with before. It was also great to see so many Vapouround Award trophies being displayed with a sense of pride by exhibitors. I know plans are already well underway to make the next Intersteam Berlin even bigger and better than before and without the World Cup taking place even more people will have the opportunity to attend.

Marking new territory

Nordics warm to vaping with first ever Scandinavian vape show

By Gordon Stribling

The end of the year will soon be upon us, giving us pause to take stock of another huge year for vaping. From the emergence of mesh coils to the explosion of CBD, a lot has happened over the past 10 months, all of it reflected at expos around the world.

On July 28, Vape Scandinavia touched down at The Forum Copenhagen in Denmark. The first expo in the region brought together vapers and vendors from industry hot spots like the US, the UK and continental Europe, as well as Scandinavia itself. “We had a strong showing from all over the region,” organizer Jason Monti said. “Including show sponsors InSano and SmokeIt and distributor Efuma from Denmark. Advocacy groups from Norway, Sweden and Denmark were on-hand to answer questions from vendors, too.”

Having previously broken new ground with Vape South America in Colombia, Jason rose to the challenge of unifying countries with contrasting vaping cultures and policies. The remit was simple – to provide countries with a high demand for vaping products with the business connections to grow the industry and supply a growing contingent of vapers.

“We approached the show as a new event for a relatively new market,” Jason said. “We now have a solid base to build on when we return next year.”

Far from simply transposing one successful show to another continent, Vape Scandinavia was reflective of the region’s vaping habits and revealed some interesting insight into the tastes and preferences of the local vaping community.

“Scandinavians take vaping very seriously,” Jason said. “They enjoy their gourmet e-liquids and custom coils, so there were far fewer pod systems than we’ve seen in the EU and South America in the past year.”

While expos provide a focal point for the world’s vaping community, Jason plans to drum up more local support next time around, with more boots-on-the-ground marketing, flyers and radio appearances. “We actually held back on marketing and advertising this time as we assumed that there were more restrictions in place than there turned out to be.”

The next event will be after the summer holidays in September 2019, maximizing attendance and helping build more connections between businesses and vapers. That will be held at Denmark’s Bella Centre.

In the meantime, Jason will be returning to Vape South America twice, including a trip to Paraguay on January 19 for the country’s first ever vape expo.

“We approached the show as a new event for a relatively new market. We now have a solid base to build on when we return next year”

BY PAUL CAPLIN

ECC, CALIFORNIA. AUGUST 3-5

Back to where it all began three years ago.

In the three-years of Vapouround Magazine, we have attended at least six ECC expos, and the August expo in California is always very important to us as it holds a lot of Vapouround history. It was in fact our very first show that we attended on our birthday three years ago.

Vapouround Magazine was launched at Vapefest in England in early August 2015 and we then flew straight out to California that same week to experience this phenomenon for the first time. We had no idea what we were about to come across and we were totally unprepared. We had only been to two shows in the UK at that point, the very first Vaper Expo UK which had 83 stands and Vapefest UK which had 50 vendors at most. So to turn to this massive American show was somewhat of an eye opener for me. Five aircraft hangers full of vendors – there was something like 1,500 vendors at this show. I had never seen anything like it, and the four of us had no chance of getting around to see everyone. We did however make lots of new friends and connections and we were amazed how well received the magazine was, as well as how welcome we were. Fast forward to August 2018 and the ECC is a very different animal compared to what it was. Now it’s a much smaller affair, partly due to the overcrowded expo roster in the US calendar, and partly because

popular US brands are all trying to conquer different countries and different markets.

The show itself has about 150-200 exhibitors nowadays, ranging from some classic big brands to a lot of new kids on the block trying to make a name in the vape scene. As always, the ECC is very well organized, although a little strict on certain things like keeping wristbands on and security is ridiculous. You can’t take a backpack to the show unless you’re an exhibitor. Apart from this, there was a great turnout all three days. The general feeling was that the B2B day was the best day, which is a massive positive for anyone wanting to do great business at the show.

My pros were this B2B day, it was so good and well represented. The layout was easy to navigate and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Cons would be the over-the-top security rules plus the stage mic and music were ridiculously loud.

The ECC will always remain a very special show to Vapouround and we believe that we owe some of the success that we have had internationally to this prestigious show. We come back year after year and look forward to the next one. Make sure you save their dates. This is one show well worth checking out, plus the weather in Cali is great this time of year too.

BY GEORGE WAINWRIGHT

VAPEXPO PARIS, PARIS-NORD VILLEPINTE. OCTOBER 6 - 8

As soon as I arrived at the venue one thing immediately struck me, the wonderful smell of crêpes which filled the air from the vendors outside.

There was a queue of people waiting to gain entry to the expo but it did not take long to get through security and into the venue itself.

This event was a lot larger than the last one and it is clear that VapExpo events are now firmly established on the international vaping calendar.

All the exhibitors I spoke to told me that it was a great show and that they planned to come back again next year which is a sure sign of a great show.

This was a well-organized and well-managed event which was busy throughout the three days but never seemed over-crowded. The music was loud enough to create a great atmosphere but not overpowering so as to be distracting.

The stands were laid out logically and I particularly loved the way all the new exhibitors were grouped together at the front of the venue. The “Newcomers Corner” was a really neat idea which worked really well and it was the first time I had seen it done.

Unusually VapExpo Paris had one consumer day followed by two business-to-business days, but it worked well and it seems the organizers knew their target audience.

The location of the expo, very close to Charles De Gaulle Airport, was great for visitors flying into Paris although it was obviously a little way out of the centre of the city. The centre piece of the show was a mock-up of the lower section of the Eiffel Tower at the main

stage complete with tables and chairs for people to sit and relax. There was no doubt at all that this was a French expo which might seem like an obvious thing to say but some shows can tend to have a rather generic feel to them, which was certainly not the case here.

There was a good mix of national and international exhibitors here and it is clear to see why VapExpo has such a good reputation for putting on vaping events.

This was a very strong show and one I enjoyed very much indeed. All of the staff were very friendly and accommodating throughout the three days and went the extra mile to ensure everyone was looked after.

The centre piece of the show was a mock-up of the lower section of the Eiffel Tower at the main stage complete with tables and chairs for people to sit and relax.

Vaper Expo UK 2018 - The Return.

October 26-28. Birmingham, UK.

By Patrick Griffin

There are three of us at Vapouround who have covered every Vaper Expo UK event for the magazine and I am very happy to be in this select group. (Owner Paul Caplin and Marketing Manager Katie Loomes are the other two club members.)

I can quite honestly say that this particular expo was my favourite to date, as all the individual show elements came together perfectly to produce an event with extra ‘wow’ factor.

I particularly liked the stand layout and the shape of the space where the event took place which made it really easy to find our way around. The wide central red carpet area spanned the entire length of the hall bounded by the entrance at one end and the main stage at the other. Five smaller red carpet strips ran perpendicular to the main strip which effectively broke the vast floorspace up into small chunks, making it simple to instantly locate any stand from the floor plan.

The music volume throughout the weekend also seemed a little quieter than on previous shows which really helps communicating with exhibitors and visitors alike. I particularly liked how exhibitors were encouraged to keep the music volume to a minimum on the business-to-business day so that nobody had to shout to have themselves heard.

Getting this element right is always tricky but I think the expo team got it spot on.

The stands at the show were also fantastic this time around. New

boys in town Red Box Liquids really stood out with their huge red phone box being totally unmissable at the show.

Their stand was close to the Vapouround Club stand which was also a new development for us. For this show we dropped the casino which has been at the last two expos and went for a massive cinema-style screen which was visible from the other side of the venue.

The screen was used for our knockout Vapouround Club Cup tournament which ran throughout the three days. The passion, determination and competitive streak from all our competitors was amazing to see. Every single match was hard fought. Our first winner was Zap! who fielded former professional Fifa player Dave Bytheway, 25, from Wolverhampton. Zap! left the weekend with a free 12-month sponsorship package for the Vapouround Club after taking the win 7-1.

My only disappointment at the Vaper Expo is that I never have enough time to visit all the stands. This time I missed out on the virtual reality experience at Black Ops E-liquids but my colleagues who experienced it said it was amazing.

I also loved what Vape Airways did at the show and I also might have enjoyed a strong cocktail or two at the Vype stand.

This was another high energy, high octane vape experience from the Vaper Expo team, a first class experience all round.

E-LIQUID

VAPOUROUND REVIEWS

HARDWARE

Single coil RDAs are having a bit of a renaissance this year. Whether it’s because of the growing popularity of squonking or that consumers are less focused on cloud chasing, it’s a good time to be a low to midwattage vaper.

Based in Toronto, MISSION XV is a design house founded by vaping enthusiasts looking to create “the most comprehensive and flawless RDA.” This is a pretty bold mission statement, so how does the KRMA measure up?

The fit and finish here is excellent. There’s a distinct lack of machining flaws, which gives the impression of a good eye for detail and quality control. The KRMA is made in smaller batches than many mass-produced RDAs, so you would expect a good standard and they’ve nailed it here.

Building on the KRMA is about as convenient as it can be when it comes to single coil designs. The choice to have a post open on the side, with the other closed off, means you can easily slide your coil of choice into the closed port, and then bring the other leg in from the side. This is a small detail, but it makes rebuilding that much more convenient. Top down screws with ample room make the KRMA suited to just about any coil. I’ve tested round wire builds and more exotic pre-made coils and had no problems with either.

The 5mm deep well is generous, which allows for plenty of wicking. This ensures that you won’t be re-dripping or squonking too often. I find that cutting your wick of choice to just slightly beyond the edge of the RDA works a treat.

The airflow design is quite unique and is really where the KRMA stands above other RDAs. An airflow inlet on the top cap sits above the angled slots on the inside and a small channel cut into the outside of the deck allows air to flow down through to your coil. This makes the KRMA remarkably leak proof. You would have to intentionally over-drip or squonk in order for e-liquid to make its way out of the device.

The result of this design is exceptionally smooth and quiet airflow, without a hint of the notorious whistling sound that affects so many single coil atomisers. It’s a restrictive DTL draw, similar to the Hadaly, but slightly tighter. Flavour production is top tier, too. I enjoyed rich, intense flavour on every build I used.

I must note that I don’t feel super hot builds work well in the KRMA. Extreme exotic coils will cause the atomizers to get a bit too hot for comfortable use. This won’t come as a surprise to veterans of the reduced chamber crowd and there are plenty of atomizers with larger chambers and airflow to accommodate that style of vaping.

One of the best RDAs of 2018.

REVIEWS

CLIMAX

VG/PG ratio: 60/40

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Climax is EVape Quest’s take on a classic dessert profile: strawberries and cream. These kinds of blends are well suited to newer vapers that wish to try something that isn’t reminiscent of traditional tobacco, so how does Climax compare to its many competitors? The mix is very strawberry heavy, with equal parts candied and natural notes. This makes for a juicy, bright top note that lingers on the palate. The cream and dessert elements of the mix are slightly more reserved than you might expect from this kind of profile, but that’s no complaint as they work to accent the brighter notes and add some complexity. Overall this is a competent take on a classic and while it’s certainly on the sweeter end of the spectrum I enjoyed my time with it.

VELOCITY

VG/PG ratio: 60/40

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Velocity is a bit of a mystery e-liquid. Described by the manufacturer as a sweet and sour blend with a lime undertone, this is one of those profiles that’s difficult to put your finger on. Lime is definitely the star of the show though. It’s a candied rendition that you might expect to find in a soft drink and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome unlike some other citrus offerings. Instead it’s quite mellow, which is ideal when you’re looking for a fruity blend to vape all day. The supporting cast of background flavours is very tough to pick out. There does seem to be some strawberry in the mix but otherwise I’m stumped as to what the mystery elements are. In any case, they play nicely with the lime and strawberry and result in a mildly sour e-liquid that keeps you guessing throughout the day.

VG/PG ratio: 60/40

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Karma is billed as a berry medley with kiwi undertones. This is a fairly simple profile, but when correctly balanced, fruit blends can make for great all day vapes with a wide appeal. The berry top notes are quite potent. Definitely getting a forest fruits vibe, meaning a good mix of dark syrupy blackberry complemented by the lighter sweetness of strawberry and raspberry. Despite being described as an undertone by the manufacturer, the kiwi element of Karma seems quite pronounced to me. It’s adding a pleasant tartness to the mix along with some depth, overall keeping things a bit more interesting. This is quite sweet for a fruit blend, but not to the extent that it becomes unpleasant. Karma is a solid e-liquid that fruit fans will likely enjoy.

KARMA EPIPHANY

VG/PG ratio: 60/40

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Mild

Tobacco-based flavour profiles have an interesting niche in the e-liquid world. Some people can’t stand them and for others they’re the only flavours worth vaping. They generally have quite nuanced profiles due to their ability to be paired with almost any other flavour category, and Epiphany is no exception. Described as a dessert tobacco blend, this will be a bit of an acquired taste. There’s a strong bakery note here, quite similar to what’s found in Tranquility. This rich, dense top note is accompanied by a moderately strong tobacco base which imparts a dark sweetness, along with a mildly bitter aftertaste. It’s a nice combination, but the tobacco is more pronounced here than what is usually found in dessert tobacco blends. I have a feeling that this will really appeal to the tobacco crowd but may be a bit adventurous for those who usually prefer sweeter e-liquids.

TRANQUILITY

VG/PG ratio: 60/40

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild

Bakery mixes have a lot of room for error, since they tend to incorporate multiple elements and are trying to recreate complex profiles. Tranquility is described by EVape as a blend of cookies, vanilla caramel, chocolate and butterscotch. Any seasoned vaper will tell you that this is a very ambitious mix, so is it pulled off in this case? A warm vanilla and biscuit combination dominate the mix. It’s sweet, fluffy and moreish and is given depth by the accenting caramel and butterscotch. I’m not quite picking up chocolate here, though that doesn’t really disappoint me as there’s already quite a lot going on. Tranquility is a decadent dessert profile that has clearly been mixed for those with a sweet tooth.

COLA SHADES

VG/PG ratio: 50/50

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Mild – 20mg salt nicotine

It was only a matter of time before Vape Dinner Lady entered the saltbased nicotine arena. Cola Shades was originally part of the Summer Holidays range and has now been reworked for vapers with instant gratification in mind. Described as a blend of cola and lemon, this is a bright beverage profile that’s ideal for low power users looking for refreshment. A candied cola dominates the mix and it’s a very competent portrayal that will leave many feeling nostalgic. The lemon here is more of an accent, but it does add an extra dimension, contrasting with the naturally sweet cola and adding a mild sour aftertaste. There also seems to be a small amount of coolant present, which imparts a pleasant refreshing finish to the mix. Cola Shades nic salts is a winner for those who enjoy light flavour profiles.

BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE LEMON TART

VG/PG ratio: 50/50

Additional sweetener: Moderate Throat hit: Mild – 20mg salt nicotine

Blackberry Crumble was recently added to the main Vape Dinner Lady line-up and now it’s available in salt nicotine form. This is a decadent and classic profile that doesn’t shy away from heavier dessert elements. A rich, jam like blackberry is the top note here. It’s sticky and sweet but does have a hint of the floral notes found in it’s real life counterpart. This is complemented well by warm bakery notes that linger on the palate. True to the description, the crumble element of this mix is buttery and this plays very well with the slight tartness of the blackberry, without overpowering it. The result is a wellbalanced dessert vape that packs a punch. This is one of the sweeter Vape Dinner Lady blends that I’ve tried, which will likely please many vapers.

VG/PG ratio: 50/50

Additional sweetener: Minimal Throat hit: Mild – 20mg salt nicotine

Vape Dinner Lady’s Lemon Tart needs no introduction to vapers in most markets, but it’s likely a new experience for Canadian vapers. Lemon Tart is an expertly layered dessert profile which is so much more than the sum of its parts. A tangy and sweet lemon dominates this blend. It’s a fantastic replication of lemon curd, bringing a super authentic zest to the mix. This is layered with a creaminess reminiscent of soft meringue, which helps balance the sharpness found in the lemon top note. The profile is finished with Dinner Lady’s signature pastry base and this really ties the whole thing together. It’s buttery, sweet and startlingly true to life. I was still able to taste all of these notes on low power devices designed for salt-based nicotine e-liquids. Lemon Tart is a must try for dessert fans.

Additional sweetener: Minimal

Despite having been around for several years, Vapetasia has seen a huge rise in popularity over the last 18 months. Killer Kustard seems to be one of their most talked about offerings, so how does it measure up? This is a silky-smooth vanilla custard profile that will be familiar to veteran vapers. It has some rich egg and dairy notes, but it’s not as heavy or sweet as some of its competitors. Instead, it’s a rather light vape that retains a thick mouthfeel without becoming overbearing. There does also seem to be some brown sugar accents, reminiscent of crème brûlée, which add some intrigue to this classic profile. Killer Kustard is a very well executed dessert blend that will be a very strong all day vape contender for custard fans. The

Mango is a tough flavour to crack. Add in dessert elements and suddenly you’re looking at an uncommon profile that could be difficult to balance. Mango is front and centre here. It’s devoid of the potent floral off notes that are present in some other mango e-liquids. Instead it’s a light and refreshing portrayal which leans more towards a candied mango than the musky, natural variety. There’s some tartness to balance the sweetness, which ensures this doesn’t become funky or cloying. The dessert elements of Pursuit are accents rather than heavy hitters. A mild but creamy meringue brings some decadence to the mix without weighing it down. The almond note is quite subtle but does add some depth to the profile and brings the mango and cream notes together well. Pursuit is a very well-balanced mellow dessert vape that will please those who wish to avoid overly sweet blends.

MISSIONLAB

Strawberry cream-based e-liquids are a staple of the vaping world. Many brands seemingly test their mettle by offering their own twist on the profile, so how does MISSION XV’s rendition fare? Explore subverts the expectations that come with a traditional strawberry cream blend. A natural leaning strawberry is present but doesn’t dominate the mix by any means. Instead, a blend of creams and subtle bakery notes are the stars of this show. A rich, milky vanilla perme ates through the profile. It’s sweet but not overly so and has a rather luxurious mouthfeel. This is complemented by some light bakery notes, which are rem iniscent of butter cookie or shortbread, along with what seems to be a coconut accent. This is another mellow dessert blend from the MISSIONLAB line, and before I knew it, I’d vaped the whole bottle. Oops.

Sight is described by the manufacturer as a blend of honeydew melon, cream and coolant. This is a pretty unconven tional profile and from personal expe rience I know that it’s difficult to add coolant to a cream-based blend without confusing the palate. The honeydew really shines here, it’s bright and has a pleasant tang. It’s somewhat candied but doesn’t have any artificial off notes. This is supported by a light cream base, similar to what’s found in Explore, albeit more reserved. This makes for a well-rounded dessert profile, but the choice to include coolant really sets Sight apart from other melon blends. The coolant doesn’t interfere at all with the flavour profile and is quite mild, lifting this already bright e-liquid and making it per fect for scratching that dessert itch during the hotter months. Sight is unexpectedly my personal favourite of the very solid MISSIONLABS line up.

#BABYCLOUDS is billed as a nutty vanilla strawberry custard by Transistor. A classic flavour profile such as this requires great execution in order to stand out in a market full of dessert vapes, so how does Transistor’s offering measure up? In short, #BABYCLOUDS is an expertly blended e-liquid. Top notes of moderately sweet candied strawberry are complemented by a full-bodied vanilla custard that has a beautifully thick mouthfeel. There’s a subtle hint of nuttiness on the exhale which adds some depth to this otherwise simple mix. At a guess I would say this is walnut, though it’s a tough call because this element of the profile isn’t dominant. I’ve enjoyed #BABYCLOUDS so much that it’s found a home in my squonk rotation, which requires me to vape 8ml before swapping out to another flavour. This is an incredibly moreish vape for any dessert fans who are looking for a classic, decadent e-liquid.

Cherry vapes are historically rather hit or miss. There’s a very real danger of venturing into cough medicine territory when trying to tame this fruit, but I’m glad to report that this isn’t the case with RESPEK. Described as a blend of cherry, cream and nuts, this mix is reminiscent of a bakewell tart. The maraschino cherry top note here is sweet whilst retaining a hint of natural bitterness, which is a welcome break from some other, more artificial cherry flavours on the market. Supporting notes of cream add some body to the profile, whilst a light almond aftertaste rounds out the mix, making for a delightful bakery profile that doesn’t become sickly or overbearing. RESPEK is among the best cherry e-liquids that I’ve tried and is likely to be an all day vape for bakery fans.

Described as a caramelized peanut butter and pistachio blend by the manufacturer, HUNNID K is an ambitious e-liquid. Caramel is definitely the star of the show here, and it punches through the profile without lingering on the palate in an unpleasant way. It’s a bright, soft crack style caramel flavour that is rarely done well, so I’m quite impressed with Transistor on this front. These top notes are supported by a slightly earthy peanut butter flavour that only serves to make the blend even creamier, whilst giving it some more depth at the same time. I’m struggling to pick out the pistachio element of the mix, likely due to it blending in with the peanut butter. Nonetheless, this is a lovely dessert vape that I find myself going back to repeatedly!

REVIEWS

These bottles are supplied in 30ml and in 3mg of nicotine with childproof caps, high quality and no leaks.

Matata

You open the bottle and your mind thinks “Hmm grape.” Now in my opinion grape is a tricky flavour to get right. No one apart from the odd few have got it right. It’s either way too sweet or very sickly. So I wicked up my coil and dripped it right on there. Boy was I surprised! The awesome people at Twelve Monkeys, I don’t know how you’ve done it but you have surely smashed it. Finally, a grape flavour that’s not too sweet and not too sickly! To inhale it, it’s like the best grape I have ever tasted but wait there’s more, did I mention there’s apple too that was a perfect surprise; apple and grape. The exhale is an awesome sweet with a taste of sour apple and my god, it’s amazing the two flavours complement themselves perfectly to make one awesome e-juice. Like most of my reviews I’m using a mech mod with a dripper and the throat hit is perfect, just enough to satisfy my craving without overpowering the taste. If I’m completely honest, I’ve vape like half of this bottle whilst reviewing this juice because I loved it so much.

Mangabeys

First of all, the name catches my eye instantly; Mangabey. For those who are unfamiliar with this word, please allow me to enlighten you. Mangabey is a type of monkey from the tropic islands so without even opening the bottle, I knew it was going to be a tropical mix of some kind. My first thoughts were “Well that can’t be right.”

Usually, tropical mixes smell very sweet with some kind of banana, but no, I was wrong. It was creamy mango and I was in love immediately. As soon as you vape this you get a very smooth creamy mango with a sweet pineapple taste that dances on the tip of your tongue.

The exhale is more sweet with the guava mixing in with the pineapple to make an awesome tropical vape that drifts your mind away to sunny beaches, palm trees and cheeky monkeys. But then my wick gets dry and I am back in my office and I can hear the rain pitter pattering on the window, so I sit back in my chair and drip some more and my mind wanders off to the tropical island.

This juice is amazingly smooth, creamy and sweet all at the same time, top marks once again Twelve Monkeys, sweet and creamy with a perfect amount of throat hit.

Kanzi

This juice Is a lovely mix of strawberry and watermelon that deserves much praise. The vape you inhale from this juice is just awesome! It’s very fruity and refreshing, the watermelon is predominant in there although with a perfect amount of strawberry mixed in on the inhale. The exhale, however, gives you an added fruit just a little touch of kiwi will leave your mouth watering and while your tonsils will still be buzzing from the strawberry it will leave you very satisfied. Yet again, I cannot think of a single reason why you should not buy this juice it is simply perfect in my eyes and with that being said, I will always carry a bottle in my personal stash since the throat hit is so smooth and a great flavour overall. Twelve Monkeys have done it again and made a juice that is simply divine! Top marks guys, keep up the good work.

“Usually, tropical mixes smell very sweet with some kind of banana, but no, I was wrong. It was creamy mango and I was in love immediately.”

ONTARIO

Vapours Canada

10 Stanley St Brantford, Ontario, N3S 7N4 Telephone +1 519 759 1919

CigVape

Unit P, 4 Cedar Pointe Dr, Barrie, Ontario, L4N 5R7 Telephone +1 705 417 1246

DashVapes Barrie

531 Bayfield St Barrie, Ontario, L4M 4Z9 Telephone +1 705 915 3274

The Vapour Den

395 St Paul Ave Brantford, Ontario, N3R 4N7 Telephone +1 519 758 8273

Mister Vapor 2468 St Clair Ave W, York, Ontario, M6N 1L3 Telephone +1 647 346 1683

The Ecig Flavourium

2383 Queen St E Toronto, Ontario, M4E 1H5 Telephone +1 289 845 3528

The Digital Smoker

283 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga, Ontario, L5G 1H3 Telephone +1 905 891 8273

NYX E-CIGS

Unit #6, 350 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4K4 Telephone +1 905 364 5319

Majestic E-Cigarettes

4 McLaughlin Rd S, Brampton, Ontario L6Y 3B2

Telephone +1 905 454 3244

Vape Nation Hamilton 280 Mud St W, Stoney Creek, Ontario, L8J 3Z6 Telephone +1 905 561 8273

Cloud 9 Vape Shoppe

974 Garrison Rd, Fort Erie, Ontario, L2A 1N7 Telephone +1 905 991 9999

Ponyboy Vapes

43 King St N, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 2W9 Telephone +1 519 746 8273

Mojo Vapes

500 George St S, Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 3E5 Telephone +1 705 772 6205

Clear Sky Vapes

621 Somerset St W, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 5K3 Telephone +1 613 600 1855

Juice On The Loose Unit 102, 765 Barrydowne Rd, Sudbury, Ontario, P3A 3T6 Telephone +1 705 223 4242

Tvape

1243 Islington Ave. #800, Toronto, Ontario, M8X 1Y9 Telephone +1 855 234 8273

Salk Street Vapor Shoppe 904 Bloor St West, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 1L1 Telephone +1 416 551 7255

180 Smoke 696 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M4J 1L1

Telephone +1 416 461 0333

Ace Vaper

Unit 5B, 9301 Bathurst St, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4C 9S2 Telephone +1 905 884 1221

Guelph Vapour Company Unit3B, 650 Scottsdale Dr, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 3M2 Telephone +1 226 770 3582

Vape360

Unit 5, 300 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville, Ontario, L6J 1J2 Telephone +1 905 338 8273

North 49 Vape 1120 Wellington Rd #3, London, Ontario, N6E 1M2 Telephone +1 519 649 6333

Vapingstory 613 Somerset St W Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 5K3 Telephone +1 613-230-4398

QUEBEC Vaporus 712 Saint Catherine Street West, Montréal, H3A 2B8 Telephone +1 514 303 1601

G2Vape 1692 Chemin de Chambly Longueuil, J4J 3X5 Telephone +1 450-651-9974

Prohibition 3131 Boulevard de la Côte-Vertu Montreal, H4R 1Y8 Telephone +1 438 385 6300

Vape Depot 8759 Rue Pascal-Gagnon Montreal, H1P 1Z4 Telephone +1 514-324-1533

Vapoclub 2669 Ch Ste-Foy Québec City, G1V 1V3 Telephone +1 418-651-5005

Luxe La Vape de 438 boul Jacques Cartier Shannon, G0A 4N0 Telephone +1 581 376 8877

VapoClub 623 Rue Saint-Jean Québec City, G1R 1P7 Telephone +1 418-990-0770

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Vape Depot

279 Boulevard Saint-Joseph Gatineau, Quebec, J8Y 3Y2 Telepehone +1 819-600-1551

Prohibition 552 Boulevard, Wilfrid-Hamel, Québec City, G1M 3E5 Telephone +1 418-914-1135

La Vape du Fjord 1153 Boul Sainte-genevieve Saguenay, Quebec, G7G 2H1 Telephone +1 418-973-6996

Vapoterie Expert 1339 105e Avenue, Shawinigan-Sud, Quebec, G9P 1M2 Telephone +1 819-731-0400

Vapo-T 541, rue de l’Harricana Amos, Quebec, J9T 2P8 Telephone +1 819-732-8276

Max-Vape 650 3e avenue Val-d’Or, Quebec, J9P 1S5 Telephone +1 819 860 0694

VAPE Mont-Laurier 763, rue de la Madone Mont-Laurier, Quebec, J9L 1T3 Telephone +1 844 370 3723

Le Vapeur Express 900 Boulevard Grignon Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, J7Y 3S7 Telephone +1 450 438 7409

Vapeurs et Saveurs 122 Rue Principale Est, Sainte-Agathe-Des-Monts, Quebec, J8C 1K1 Telephone +1 819-323-3244

VapeExperts 1038 Boulevard Curé-Labelle Blainville, Quebec, J7C 2M5 Telephone +1 450 818 9005

VapeZone

1277 Boulevard des Seigneurs, Terrebonne, Quebec, J6W 4P7 Telephone +1 450-824-9663

Wi Vapeur

4718 boul St-Jean Pierrefonds, Quebec, H9H 4B2 Telephone +1 438 796 0655

VapeMtl

1093 Beaver Hall Hill, Montreal, Quebec, H2Z 1S5 Telephone +1 844 827 3685

NOVA SCOTIA

Mr Clouds Vape Shop

1266 Bedford Hwy Bedford, Nova Scotia, B4A 1C7 Telephone +1 902-405-1057

Vapor Venue

807 Bedford Hwy, Bedford, Nova Scotia, B4A 1A5 Telephone +1 902-832-3699

Elite Vapor

1139 Bedford Hwy Bedford, Nova Scotia, B4A 1B9 Telephone +1 902-404-4444

The Vapour Trail 3514 Joseph Howe Dr Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3L 4G7 Telephone +1 902-446-8273

Scotian Smoke 1858 Albermarle St Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3L9 Telephone +1 902-474-4372

The Foggy Coil

644 Portland St Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2W 2M3 Telephone +1 902-462-2822

The Vapour Trail

1082 Cole Harbour Rd Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, B2V 1E7 Telephone +1 902-431-8273

U Vape Friendly Vape Shop

245 Waverley Rd Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2X 2C5 Telephone +1 902 576 3666

The Vapour Trail 293 Sackville Dr Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, B4C 2R7 Telephone +1 902 252 8273

The Vapour Spot 5280 St Margarets Bay Rd, Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia, B3Z 2J1 Telephone +1 902 401 8653

Crescent Vape Shop 102 Victoria St E Amherst, Nova Scotia, B4H 1X8 Telephone +1 902 661 2209

Meg’s Ultimate Vapor 125 Main St Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 2C4 Telephone +1 902 338 3333

The End Vapor Shop 96 Provost St New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, B2H 2P4 Telephone +1 902 695 2644

The Vapour Trail 79 Starrs Rd, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, B5A 2T6 Telephone +1 902 881 8273

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

King Vapor

92 Capital Dr Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1E 1K4 Telephone +1 902 218 7848

JSC Vapes 2238 Ohalloran Rd Bloomfield, Prince Edward Island, C0B 1E0 Telephone +1 902-726-2085

NEW BRUNSWICK

VapeCity 80 Mapleton Rd Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 7W6 Telephone +1 506 383 8273

East Coast Vape

1405 Mountain Rd Moncton, New Brunswick, E1E 1E8 Telephone +1 506 851 1324

Metro Vape Shop

203 Saint George Street Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 1V6 Telephone +1 506 854 4600

Vapeur 1755

489 Acadie Ave Dieppe, New Brunswick, E1A 1H7 Telephone +1 506 204 5400

VapeCity 390 Coverdale Rd Riverview, New Brunswick, E1B 3J7 Telephone +1 506 977 2782

eJuice Depot

102 Main St Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3A 1C2 Telephone +1 506 449 5745

East Coast Vape

230 Main St Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3A 1C9 Telephone +1 506-455-2244

Mary Jane Vapes

1299 Hanwell Rd Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3C 1N3 Telephone +1 506 444 8273

New Beginnings Vape 1018 Prospect St Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 3C1 Telephone +1 506 454 1884

Vape And Beyond

286 Restigouche Rd, Oromocto, New Brunswick, E2V 2H5 Telephone +1 506 444 1313

Vapires 254 Douglas Ave Saint John, New Brunswick, E2K 1E5 Telephone +1 506 214 8273

Foggerz 506

114 Queen St Woodstock, New Brunswick, E7M 2M9 Telephone +1 506 594 3644

Greenfield Vape 464 Back Greenfield Rd Wicklow, New Brunswick, E7L 3C6 Telephone +1 506 278 0012

Vapemode Plus 3375 rue Principale Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick, E1X 1A4 Telephone +1 506 600 8273

MANITOBA

Payson’s Smoke’n Vape 46 Main St Flin Flon, Manitoba, R8A 1J6 Telephone +1 204 687 6959

Fat Panda Vape Shop 40 Centre St Gimli, Manitoba, R0C 1B0 Telephone +1 204 642 1336

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SilverDragon Vape Shop

20 Brandt St Steinbach, Manitoba, R5G 1Y2

Telephone +1 431-205-1077

Wheat City Vape Shop

1037 Rosser Ave Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 0L5 Telephone +1 204 691 2091

Fat Panda Vape Shop 601 18th St Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 5B3 Telephone +1 204 599 9909

TheraVape

346 Keewatin St Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 2R9 Telephone +1 431 999 8273

Vape Haven 260 Watt St Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2K 2R5 Telephone +1 204 691 8998

Cold Turkey Vape Shop

77 Edmund Gale Dr Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 4H8 Telephone +1 204 691 5414

MulveyEvape 421 Mulvey Ave Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 0R6 Telephone +1 204 805 2928

Divine Vape Shop 1115a St Mary’s Rd Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2M 3T7 Telephone +1 204 417 8273

SASKATCHEWAN

Heavy Jam Vape Supply 2750 Faithfull Ave Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 6M6 Telephone +1 306 249 8273

Inspired Vapor Company 110 Burrows Ave Melfort, Saskatchewan, S0E 1A0 Telephone +1 844 214 3862

180 Smoke Vape Store 549 6 St NE Wadena, Saskatchewan, S0A 4J0 Telephone +1 306 338 2400

Vapor Jedi 415 B Cir Dr E Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 4B4 Telephone +1 306 244 3036

Vape Shack 366 Broadway St W Yorkton, Saskatchewan, S3N 0N9 Telephone +1 306 621 5438

VapeVille

235 Main St Melville, Saskatchewan, S0A 2P0 Telephone +1 306 728 8130

The Coff Stop Vape Shop

1701 Chaplin St E Lwer Swift Current, Saskatchewan, S9H 1K9 Telephone +1 306 971 2633

Fat Panda Vape Shop

1251 Main St N Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, S6H 6M3 Telephone +1 306 692 0369

Queen City Vapes

1763 Halifax St Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 1T2 Telephone +1 306 359 8273

Electric Fog Vape Shop

2219 Broad St Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 1Y7 Telephone +1 306 352 8273

Smaug’s Vape Lounge

57 3rd St Weyburn, Saskatchewan, S4H 0W1 Telephone +1 306 842 0666

BRITISH COLUMBIA

EZ-Vape Duncan

8-361 Trans Canada Hwy Duncan, British Columbia, V9L 3R5 Telephone +1 250 748 0357

Vancouver Island DIY Vape Supply Co. 922 View St Victoria, British Columbia V8V 3L5 Telephone +1 778 432 2270

Corner Vapes

407 Martin St Penticton, British Columbia, V2A 5L1 Telephone +1 250 770 3132

Valley Vapors 2438 Main St West Kelowna, British Columbia, V4T 1Y9 Telephone +1 778 754 1308

Atomic Vapor Kelowna 2009 Enterprise Way Kelowna, British Columbia, V1Y 8G6 Telephone +1 778 478 7505

Dubz 420 Smoke N Vape 233 Columbia Ave Castlegar, British Columbia, V1N 1G3 Telephone +1 778 460 4200

One Stop Vape Shop 1022 Cranbrook St N Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 3S3 Telephone +1 403 470 1146

Matchbox Smoke & Vape Shop

360 Trans Canada Hwy SW Salmon Arm, British Columbia, V1E 1B5 Telephone +1 250 832 7666

EzVape Cariboo

419 10 Ave N Williams Lake, British Columbia, V2G 2L5 Telephone +1 778 412 8273

Digital Vapor 15988 Fraser Hwy Surrey, British Columbia, V4N 0X8 Telephone +1 604 503 6010

Maria’s Vapor Emporium 22465 North Ave Maple Ridge, British Columbia, V2X 2M1 Telephone +1 604 467 6513

White Rock EZ-Vape

1474 Johnston Rd White Rock, British Columbia, V4B 3Z5 Telephone +1 604 560 6390

All Day Vapes

5765 203a St Langley, British Columbia, V3A 1W7 Telephone +1 778-277-0050

Simatech Vapour 435 5th St Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 1J7 Telephone +1 250-871-8273

Vapour Solutions

648 Terminal Ave Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 5E2 Telephone +1 778-441-2646

E-Cigarette Canada

2149 Bowen Rd Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9S 1H8 Telephone +1 250 244 3779

Find Your Cloud 9

4679 Marine Ave Powell River, British Columbia, V8A 2L2 Telephone +1 604 485 0068

EZ Vape Northshore

987 Marine Dr North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7P 1S4 Telephone +1 604 971 5313

Thunderbird Vapes 250 Broadway W Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Y 1P6 Telephone +1 604 558 3244

City Vapes Canada

4253 Hastings St Burnaby, British Columbia, V5C 2J5 Telephone +1 604 356 8109

Vaper Dome

963 Brunette Ave Coquitlam, British Columbia, V3K 1E1 Telephone +1 604 553 2252

Big Cloud Vapor Bar 4927 Kingsway St Burnaby, British Columbia, V5H 2E5 Telephone +1 604 428 8273

Vape Corner Electronic Cigarette Shop 5951 Minoru Blvd Richmond, British Columbia, V6X 4B1 Telephone +1 604 368 8273

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