California NORML is sponsoring a laboratory study to investigate the safety of electronic vape pens.
The study is designed to measure toxic emissions such as benzene, formaldehyde, and heavy metals that could be dangerous to health, as well as the amounts of THC and cannabinoids they deliver to users.
The study is a follow-up to California NORML’s 2001-2004 lab studies of herbal vaporizers, which heat up natural buds or leaf. The studies demonstrated that they could deliver virtually pure THC without any of the toxins or carcinogens present in smoke.
Less is known about electronic vape pens, however. Cannabis vapes differ from herbal vaporizers in that they vaporize concentrates, not natural buds and leaf, and operate at higher temperatures. However, there has been little research on cannabis vapes, because antiquated federal regulations forbid researchers from testing federally unlicensed products even if they are stare-regulated and tested. Cal NORML has therefore enlisted a private lab not dependent on federal permits or funding.
There is good reason to suppose that cannabis vapes are effective in screening out harmful smoke toxins, as studies with nicotine e-cigarettes have shown. Nonetheless, California’s influential anti-smoking lobby, funded by the tobacco tax, has sought to scare the public about vapes, wrongly portraying them as dangerous as cigarettes.
In fact, valid concerns about the safety of cannabis vapes were raised by an outbreak of fatal EVALI lung disease among users in 2020-1. The problem was traced to a toxic additive used in black-market vape concentrates. No fatalities were reported in California-licensed vapes, whose contents are tested for contaminants. Nonetheless, researchers have raised other concerns about possible leakage of heavy metals from vape cartridges or formaldehyde contaminants caused by overheating.
Cal NORML’s study is intended to cast light on these risks. Initial results are expected shortly. Because there are many brands of cannabis vapes, Cal NORML would like to pursue further studies with different devices. Donations for this work are cordially solicited. Contact [email protected], 510-540-1066.
This story is from Cal NORML’s 2025 year-end newsletter. Support Cal NORML and receive our newsletter.
