The vaping market has exploded in popularity over the years, but so has the counterfeit market.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that most patients who suffered from the E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) outbreak in 2019 used THC products obtained from questionable sources that contained vitamin E acetate.
Learning how to tell if your vape cart is real or fake isn’t really only about the quality; it’s also about safety and health concerns.
Real or Fake Vape Cart? Here are 6 Ways to Know!
1. Check Where You Bought It
According to the CDC, the majority of EVALI cases are linked to products that were bought from informal sources, like friends, dealers, street vendors, and unverified online sellers.
Illicit market cartridges often bypass regulatory safety testing. Make sure to buy only from licensed & trusted suppliers, like the VapePensWholesale.com, to avoid counterfeits.
2. Inspect the Packaging Carefully
Manufacturers of fake vape carts often replicate the branding but not the proper labeling. Be meticulous in inspecting the packaging.
Legitimate vape cart packaging must include:
- QR codes linked to the Certificate of Analysis (COA) and lab testing
- Batch number
- Manufacturer information
- Compliance warnings
- Tamper-evident and child-resistant packaging and seals
- High-quality print, with vibrant colors, clear texts, and no misspellings
On the other hand, if you notice a misspelled brand name, low-resolution printing, a generic design, no traceable company website, no QR codes, and duplicated serial numbers, then you’ll know you have a fake one.
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3. Verify Lab Testing & QR Codes
It’s not enough that you see a QR code on the packaging—you should be able to trace that back to a real lab website and not blank pages!
Legitimate vape carts have official results from third-party laboratories, the Certificate of Analysis. It’s sort of like a report card, detailing whether the product passed different screenings below:
- Cannabinoid potency
- Heavy metal screening
- Pesticide testing
- Residual solvent testing
- Microbial contaminants
The lab report should confirm that there are no pesticides, heavy metals, or harmful cutting agents, and should list batch numbers that match the packaging.
4. Examine the Oil Inside the Cartridge
This is probably the first thing you would do when you open the packaging, and that’s good. While the oil’s appearance alone cannot confirm a vape cart’s authenticity, it can still raise red flags when something about it looks off or weird.
Real THC oil is clear to amber in color and has a thick consistency. To confirm the consistency, do a bubble test.
Hold your vape cart upright, then quickly turn it upside down. Observe the bubbles and how they travel from bottom to top. If they move fast, that means the oil is thin and watery, and might contain thinning agents. As real THC oil is thick, the bubble should move slowly.
More red flags to look for in the oil appearance and consistency are:
- Excessively dark oil
- Cloudy oil
- Separation layers
- Very watery movement
However, these visual cues are not foolproof ways of knowing whether your vape cart is real or fake. Lab testing is still the most reliable—so check that COA!
5. Inspect the Hardware Quality
Genuine vape carts are made from durable, high-quality materials, such as stainless steel, glass, or high-grade plastic. If something feels off about your vape cart, maybe it's too light or too flimsy, then you might be holding a fake one.
Counterfeit vape carts use low-grade metals. You might notice loose parts like the mouthpiece, and even some oil leakage.
Because of the cheap material, it’s also possible for the toxic, heavy metals used in the hardware to leech off into the cannabis oil, which can make it more dangerous than it already is.
When you try it, you might also notice a burnt taste quickly, and a weak or inconsistent vapor.
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6. Price Too Good to Be True?
As with other items, if the price is too good to be true, then it probably is.
Legitimate manufacturers of vape carts and THC products will not lower the price just to sell more items. They shoulder the testing costs, compliance costs, and licensing fees, which can be a lot.
Illegal manufacturers and sellers don’t bother with these, so they can sell significantly below market value.
Dangerous Additives in Fake Vape Carts and What Happens If You Use One
Based on previous reports and investigations, fake vape carts often contain additives that are harmful to health and can cause lifelong conditions.
Vitamin E Acetate
One of the most common additives found that is said to be strongly linked to the 2019 EVALI outbreak is Vitamin E Acetate.
At a glance, Vitamin E Acetate is beneficial for the body because of its antioxidant properties. It is a popular ingredient in skincare products and in dietary supplements that helps protect and keep our skin, hair, and even immune functions healthy.
However, when inhaled, that’s when it becomes dangerous. It can cause severe lung damage from the ketene gas produced when Vitamin E Acetate is heated.
Some of its short-term risks are:
- Coughing
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
While long-term and severe cases can cause:
- Chemical exposure
- Hospitalization
- Lung damage
- Respiratory failure
Synthetic Cannabinoids
Another dangerous additive found in fake vape carts is synthetic cannabinoids.
They are man-made compounds designed to mimic THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. Oftentimes, they are 10 to 100 times more potent than natural marijuana itself, which can lead to more intense and potentially dangerous long-term effects.
Some of its reported side effects are:
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- High-blood pressure
- Hyperthermia
- Seizures
- Psychosis
Cardiovascular complications
Some synthetic cannabinoids are also contaminated with dangerous substances like brodifacoum, a type of rat poison.
Other Harmful Additives Found in Counterfeit Vape Carts
- Propylene glycol, a food additive and preservative, in unregulated amounts
- Butane & Ethanol, both extraction solvents, leave residue when the product is not properly purged
- Pesticides like myclobutanil
- Heavy metals like lead
- Other unknown thinning agents
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can fake vape carts cause lung damage?
Yes, CDC investigations linked illicit THC vape carts containing vitamin E acetate to acute lung injury.
2. How common are counterfeit vape cartridges?
The illicit cannabis market remains active in many states due to regulatory gaps.
In fact, in this report by NASDAQ, the cannabis black market earned a whopping $74 billion in 2022, compared to the $28 billion earned by legal shops. It’s even projected to earn more until 2030.
3. How do I verify a cannabis testing lab?
Check your state database to see if the testing laboratory is licensed by them. You can also visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to see the laboratory’s registration, especially if they handle hemp or high-THC cannabis for research.
Confirm if they have ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, the current gold standard for testing labs, and cross-reference it to their website.
4. Are all cheap vape carts fake?
Not necessarily, as some legit brands really offer a more affordable price than others.
However, be vigilant as some but significantly underpriced carts without lab testing are high-risk.
5. Should I report suspected counterfeit vape products?
Yes. The FDA encourages reporting suspicious tobacco/vape products via its Safety Reporting Portal.
Conclusion
Remember: it’s not only about the taste, experience, or the quality of what you’re using—it’s also about your health.
Counterfeit vape carts pose documented health risks, so the safest approach would be to purchase from licensed and regulated suppliers, like VapePensWholesale.com.
Check out our other recommended articles below!
- Where to Buy Empty Vape Cartridges for Cannabis Brands
- How to Empty a Vape Cart Safely
- Can I Put Vape Juice in an Empty Cart?
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