When people think of a drug bust, they often picture a Utah highway patrol trooper arresting someone for transporting marijuana or meth across the state. However, more recently, these officers have been seizing THC vape cartridges.
Vape devices aerosolize colorless solvents and additives, like flavorings, into a fine mist to inhale. The digestive system offers a barrier against those contaminants, but the lungs don’t.
After years of contentious public debate, Utah’s medical cannabis program finally got off the ground after voters approved Proposition 2 in 2020. But the state’s budding program is facing scrutiny after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked THC cartridge use to 57 cases of lung illness and 15 deaths nationwide.
The THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) oil in a THC vape cartridge attaches to a battery unit that heats the liquid and turns it into a fine, cool steam you inhale. The effect is instant and lasts one to three hours.
But a pharmacist and pulmonologist warn that some THC cartridges sold in the state contain “reconstituted” or synthesized delta-8 THC, which can be cheaper than plant-derived THC. These THC cartridges are often marketed on social media and can appeal to younger users, according to the experts. Also, in Utah, anyone who sells drug paraphernalia, including THC cartridges, to a person under 18 faces up to five years in prison. The CDC recommends buying only THC cartridges that have been laboratory-tested and labeled. In addition, they should avoid modifying or adding any additional substances to cartridges.
Keep the Battery Charged
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A THC cartridge contains a liquid filled with the cannabis extract THC that attaches to a device that heats it to produce a vapor that a user inhales. It is a popular way to use marijuana in Utah. The THC vape cartridges in Utah are available at dispensaries and can be bought by anyone over 18. If an individual is caught possessing or selling THC cartridges, they may be charged with a crime.
A recent death from vaping THC raises questions about state laws’ effectiveness. While the cause of the victim’s lung disease remains under investigation, the state Department of Health has urged everyone to quit using THC-laced products until more is known.
The move blows to advocates who say the cannabis industry needs more oversight. They argue that the current system is vulnerable to corruption and want more regulation to ensure patients get the proper medication for their conditions. They also want the government to take a stronger stand against the black market and social media advertisements that target children.
Don’t Vape While Driving
Although vaping is legal in Utah for medical patients with a valid doctor’s prescription, smoking or vaping while driving is still prohibited, it is because it is considered an illegal act to be under the influence of cannabis or any other drug while operating a motor vehicle.
It is essential always to use caution when using THC cartridges while driving. In addition, it is a good idea to only vape in private places where others can’t see you. It is especially true if you have passengers in your vehicle.
It is because they may feel pressured to join in on your vaping session. It can lead to a distracted driving incident that could get you into serious trouble. Even if you have a medical marijuana card, you can be charged with a DUI if you are found to be under the influence of cannabis or any drug while behind the wheel of a vehicle. While a chemical test can’t prove you were high, it can be used as evidence and other signs of impairment to secure a conviction.
Vape in a Public Place
In Utah, you can vape medical marijuana with pre-prepared concentrates or CBD oil in a compatible cartridge that fits a standard battery. However, you must not smoke or inhale directly from the flower. You are also prohibited from smoking or vaping in public places such as restaurants, bars, and workplaces, except for designated hotel and motel smoking rooms, areas of owner-operated businesses with no employees besides the proprietor, and American Indian religious and cultural ceremonies.
In light of a recent death caused by vaping, state health officials are considering changing the law to limit nicotine concentrations in e-cigarettes to 3 percent. Still, they have yet to pinpoint exactly what is making people sick. One possible culprit is vitamin E acetate, which is safe to consume in foods and nutritional supplements but is harmful when inhaled into the lungs. It has been detected in 89% of THC cartridges tested in Utah by the UPHL lab.
Vape in Moderation
Inhaling the oils in a THC cartridge is much like smoking. The vapor produced is odorless and dissipates quickly. However, the chemicals found in oil form when burning THC can cause the same lung damage as smoke from cigarettes. Inhaling these chemicals can lead to various symptoms, including bloodshot eyes, dry mouth and thirst, and changes in appetite. It can also affect the brain and lead to changes in mood or behavior. You may notice a difference in your child’s friends and an interest in activities they didn’t previously participate in.
Health investigators have yet to figure out what makes people sick, but more than one ingredient is likely responsible. It could be a new chemical introduced into the supply, a contaminant like a vitamin E acetate found in nutritional supplements but not safe to inhale into the lungs, or even reusing and modifying store-bought vaping devices.
To prevent the kind of lung injury experienced by the victims, the state health department is considering a regulation limiting the amount of nicotine in vape pods sold in Utah to 3 percent. Drug Safe Utah and other groups fought hard for this change, using email campaigns to gather thousands of comments from concerned citizens.
