Cannabis vape cartridges are more widely used now than ever before. However, a rise in fake cartridge producers looking to capitalize on the trend has occurred, primarily due to their explosive popularity.
It was quickly discovered that using counterfeit cartridges could harm your health. A few years ago, fake vape carts that contained vitamin E acetate, a filler used to lower costs, went viral, and coast-to-coast news outlets covered the worst-case scenarios associated with using them.
How can you tell a fake cartridge from a real one in today’s confusing vape carts so that you can continue to vape safely? For the best methods of spotting a fake cartridge, keep reading.
What Is a Vape Cartridge?
A small capsule called a vape cart, also known as a cartridge, contains different marijuana oil extracts or concentrates. Glass, plastic, or ceramic containers can all be used for the same thing.
1. Ingredients
Ingredients in fake THC cartridges are frequently not tested for safety or approved for human consumption. For instance, a thickener called Vitamin E acetate is commonly used in counterfeit goods because it is less expensive to produce while still producing the same oil consistency as authentic cartridges. According to current research, one of the main suspects in the illnesses and fatalities caused by vaping is vitamin E acetate.
Make sure to choose a cart pen from a reputed brand. Any pen that has a THC content below 60% that is another ingredient-based indicator. Any cartridge less than 60% THC is probably laced with other dangerous ingredients, making it hazardous and fake. On the other hand, containers with abnormally high THC content are also fake cartridges and ought to be handled as such.
2. Packaging: Spotting the Red-flags
The most important visual indicators of a fake cart, aside from those based on ingredients, will be found on the packaging. State-specific guidelines must be followed for customized cartridge packaging to be legally consumed.
3. What is on the Packaging of Official THC Products
- Package date
- Manufacturing date
- Batch number
- Lot number
Look for a packaging icon and a potential QR code on the cart’s packaging. The state mandates specific packaging icons for safe and legal distribution. You can scan the QR code to get additional assurance that the item is genuine and has undergone proper testing. The QR code will help you find a serial number that corresponds to the one on the brand’s website. Compare the two numbers; if they differ, the cartridge is unquestionably fake. Toss It, then.
To be sold legally, all THC-containing products must have a license number and make their lab results available to the public online. Notably, it is most likely a counterfeit cart if it lacks the necessary quality and proof of legal and safe consumption.
Significantly, you can view the panel of testing results by looking at the Certificate of Analysis (COA) online, which must be provided by a licensed, FDA-approved facility. Also, make sure the company you buy from is reputable if you plan to buy a THC cartridge online. The cartridge has not been certified as a safe product if the company is not a verified brand.
4. Color & Taste of the Substance
These warning signs are easier to spot after you’ve already made the error of purchasing fake vape carts. Whoops! If the fake cart’s color has an orange tint or dark oil, you’ve got a fake vape. The real THC vape carts are thick and juicily looking, with a robust and clear gold hue.
What flavor do fake carts have, then? So, if you decide to puff on a fake cart, be prepared for a burnt flavor and possibly a metallic aftertaste. This is because some of the additives and contaminants in these defective carts react negatively when heated, causing the vapor to taste unpleasant.
5. Check the Price
A price that seems too good to be true is. High levels of advantageous cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes are also present in real vape carts, which are made of the purest cannabis compounds. These valuable goods must be extracted and isolated, which is an expensive process. Actual vape carts are therefore priced as premium goods for a reason. To altogether avoid fake carts, avoid any cheap imitations.
6. Check the Consistency
Hold your alleged vape cart inverted. Real carts will be slow-moving and thick in consistency. Due to the additives, most counterfeit carts will be thinner, move more quickly, and possibly even have bubbles.
Verify the testing panel’s COA or Certificate of Analysis. Put your detective hat on and research if you’re not buying from a reputable retailer. You can directly request the test results by contacting (or checking online) the third-party testing lab. Those who fake can also use Photoshop.
Bottomline
Using a potent, portable vaping device and THC cartridges, cannabis users can now enjoy the effects of their preferred herb discreetly. There is even a case to be made that since they don’t produce the tar, smoke, or carcinogens associated with combustion, they are safer than smoking cannabis. While we don’t sell cartridges, you can add something to your cart by looking at our vape pens.
You must be aware of the tell-tale signs of a fake THC cartridge, which are listed in this guide. By doing this, you can protect your health and the health of those who matter most to you.
Avoiding purchases on the black market in favor of trusted local dispensaries or online retailers is the best way to ensure your safety. Before using any cartridge, carefully review every package and ingredient. Avoid being duped by subpar goods or ingredients with unusually long names.
