Social media makes it easier to buy illegal cannabis vapes containing pesticides

Vaping cartridges containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can be purchased illicitly on social media platforms, often contain illegal pesticides that pose serious health risks, according to the consumer program Radar. Readily available via Snapchat or Telegram, it is easy for nearly anyone to acquire the vape material with THC, a psychoactive compound derived from cannabis.

Radar had the cartridges in question tested at the laboratory of the Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda. The test found illegal pesticides in those vapes and confirmed the presence of cannabinoids, including the controlled substance THC.

Possessing small quantities of cannabis for individual use is largely decriminalized in the Netherlands. This cannabis is available for purchase in coffeeshops, which are only legally open to people aged 18 and up.

However, when it comes to sales on apps such as Telegram or Snapchat, Radar found that there are no age checks and no content oversight. Not only were vape cartridges containing controlled substances easily obtainable by underage children, there is now more concern over the long-term health impact caused to those using vape material containing pesticides.

Earlier this year, RTL Nieuws also had flavored vapes tested in a British laboratory. The results showed that flavored vapes are also packed with toxic metals and carcinogenic substances. Moreover, they contain much higher levels of nicotine than legally permitted.