When people buy products, especially in a developed country like the US or UK, they have the logical expectation that the product will contain, or not contain, certain ingredients, based on the product labeling. But lately we’re seeing a rise of mislabeled or contaminated products that are causing issues for consumers. The most recent story to hit the airwaves – nicotine-free vapes sold on Amazon that do contain nicotine. Let’s take a closer look.
What’s the news?
Recent investigation by The Guardian (a British daily newspaper) found that “nicotine-free” vapes sold on Amazon were found to actually contain quite a bit of nicotine. They tested seven products sold through the marketplace by third-party sellers that claimed to contain no nicotine at all, and six did in fact, contain the addictive stimulant.
This all started with concerns raised by a consumer. He contacted Amazon directly in July and August, and was told to contact the seller directly (which we all know can be rather difficult sometimes). Now that the story has been picked up by the media, Amazon has since removed the products and said It would “take enforcement action against any third-party sellers who violate their policies”.
The customer, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had been using the disposable vape pens for quite some time before he realized something was amiss. “I have been trying to give up vaping so I bought no-nicotine ones,” he said. “I have bought them about 20 times and spent hundreds of pounds on them.”
“When I first got them I trusted they did not contain nicotine, so thought I was getting off [the substance]. But when I stopped using the vapes I got withdrawals. I looked at the reviews and loads of people were saying this product actually has nicotine in it. They were saying it is a fraud,” he said. He contacted Amazon customer service and stated that “as per the description we believe it [the product] contains no nicotine”. He replied asking: “So no tests were done on the product? Even though myself and other people in the reviews have said it probably contained nicotine.”
Not only was there nicotine in the nicotine-free vapes, but many of them came back as having more than the legal capacity of 2ml, with a strength no more than 20mg/ml. So not only did they have nicotine when they were not supposed to, but some of them had more than the legal limit for vapes that actually do contain nicotine.
According to The Guardian, “One vape was marketed as being zero-nicotine but actually had 12.27mg/ml of nicotine and a fill volume of 6ml. Another vape had 13.58mg/ml of nicotine and a similarly large fill volume.”
In the UK, where this problem was discovered, there is a pending ban on disposable vapes, after growing calls for action from healthcare professionals and advocates. An announcement is expected soon as to whether the ban will be implemented or not, and this story might be enough to push regulators in a certain direction.
What are the implications here?
The obvious problem here is that stories like this make it impossible for consumers to trust what they’re buying. It’s terrible to think about how many people out there are trying to get off nicotine, thinking they are purchasing vapes that will help there in their journey to fight addiction, only to be deceived by a shady company who may not even face any consequences for their actions.
Ultimately, it shows us that as much as we crave less government regulations, unfortunately, it seems that these industries just cannot seem regulate themselves, as we keep seeing issues like this with mislabeled and contaminated products in all the markets that sell smokables like cannabis and nicotine vapes.
But on the flip side, we have this problem in regulated industries as well. How often do we see product recalls in the news? Chicken strips with pieces of plastic in them, undeclared dairy in vegan products at trader joes, cookies containing rocks, soup with dead insects in it; the list goes on. Medications are often recalled also. A recent study found that over the last 10 years, an average of 4 medications are recalled every single day in the United States.
And the recalls don’t stop at consumable products. Ford recently issued a recall for 42,000 trucks over a defect that “may cause crashes”. Electrolux Group recently recalled 80,000 gas cooktops for gas leaks and fire hazards. And possibly the most terrifying, nearly 60,000 car seats were recalled earlier this year because the “models may fail”, according to records.
Are we simply not safe from sh***y products, regardless of whether the government steps in to oversee the industry or not? Honestly, it’s starting to seem that way. And this recent drama with Amazon and their nicotine vapes put the spotlight on this issue once again.
Final thoughts
Although some of these fringe industries have been requesting some help from the government lately, it’s hard to say if that will even work. When it comes to all the off-label vape products, it’s a high possibility that they will be responsible for the illegalization of certain items in many countries. If the UK moves forward with a ban on disposable vapes, it’s very likely that more countries will follow suit… and this recent buzz about nicotine in nicotine-free vapes does nothing to help.
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In the news today regarding the famous canal – but what about Panama and marijuana?
Panama is the only place in the world where the sun rises in the Pacific Ocean and sets in the Atlantic Ocean. It is slightly smaller than South Carolina but has more bird species than the continental United States. It’s also home to many natural attractions, including whitewater rafting, snorkeling, and birding. Long a friend, it was the first Latin American country to use the US dollar as its currency. Now it is the news with the new administration. Considering the talk here, what about Panama and cannabis?
The economy of Panama is based mainly on the tourism and services sector, which accounts for nearly 80% of its GDP and accounts for most of its foreign income. Services include banking, commerce, insurance, container ports, and flagship registry, medical and health. Enjoy a significant number of travelers who enjoy adventure, outdoor activities and chilling, the country’s stance on marijuana is evolving.
Panama has made significant strides in the realm of cannabis, particularly regarding its medical use. In 2021, Panama became the first Central American nation to legalize medical cannabis when President Laurentino Cortizo signed Law 242, allowing for the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives. This law was a response to growing demands from patients suffering from various medical conditions, including epilepsy and chronic pain, who had previously resorted to smuggling cannabis products due to a lack of legal options
In September 2022, the Panamanian government established regulations to support the implementation of Law 242. These regulations created a National Directorate for the Monitoring of Activities Related to Medical Cannabis, which operates under the Ministry of Public Security. This body is responsible for overseeing the cultivation, production, and distribution of medical cannabis products, ensuring patient data protection and product traceability from cultivation to sale. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is tasked with issuing licenses for manufacturing and commercializing cannabis products, with an initial cap on manufacturing licenses set at seven for the first five years. Regulations aim to ensure that all medical cannabis produced in Panama adheres to strict quality standards.
The government envisions creating a robust local industry that not only meets domestic needs but also positions Panama as a potential hub for international medical cannabis trade. While they are making advancements in medical cannabis regulation, recreational use remains illegal in Panama. The law against recreational cannabis is often unenforced, leading to a culture where its use is tolerated among the youth. Both the public and tourist find it an easy atmosphere.
Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and has as stable government. Like the United States, it is a republic and engages the public. They have evaluated cannabis as a benefits and have moved to integrating into their healthcare.
They are more popular than dating apps and are consider a best friend – but are they really there when you need them emotionally?
They are man’s best friend with 38% of Canadians and roughly 50% of Americans having a dog. In the US more men have dogs and in Canada more woman have the furry companion. While they are fun, loving and play, does your dog really care when you are sad? Dogs have long been known as loyal companions, but recent research suggests that their emotional intelligence may run deeper than mere companionship; they can actually empathize with their owners’ feelings, particularly during times of distress.
A study published in the journal Learning & Behavior explored how dogs respond to their owners’ emotional states. Researchers found that dogs not only recognize when their owners are upset but also take action to provide comfort. In the experiment, 34 dog-owner pairs were observed in a controlled setting where owners either cried or hummed a cheerful tune. The results showed that while the dogs opened a door to reach their owners at similar rates, those who heard crying did so significantly faster—averaging just 23 seconds compared to 96 seconds for the humming group. This indicates that dogs are more inclined to respond quickly when they perceive their owner is in distress.
Interestingly, the study also noted physiological responses in dogs when their owners cried. Dogs that opened the door displayed lower stress levels than those who did not, suggesting that while they were affected by the owner’s crying, they were not overwhelmed by it. Conversely, dogs who showed high levels of stress likely cared deeply but were too anxious to act. This highlights a range of emotional responses among dogs, similar to human reactions.
The bond between dogs and their owners plays a crucial role in these empathetic behaviors. Dogs with stronger attachments to their owners exhibited quicker responses to distress signals. This bond is essential as it fosters a mutual understanding of emotions, allowing dogs to act on their instincts to comfort their human companions. As research continues to unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that our canine companions are not just pets; they are emotionally attuned partners capable of providing significant comfort during our most challenging moments.
There are beloved and fun – and some of the classic and Spaghetti western’s have some fun
From today’s hit like Yellowstone to the old school TV classics like Gunsmoke, Bonzana and High Chapperell. Riding the wave of popularity, in the 60s and 70s a subgenera appeared in Italy produced with low budgets. Sergio Leone is considered the pioneer of the spaghetti Western genre. Leone was an Italian filmmaker who directed several and help make them popular. They are know for their anti-her and supervision of traditional Western tropes. All of If you look past the plots, you can see there is value in what they share. Here are some fun life lessons learned from Spaghetti Westerns.
If you pay attention, Westerns can teach you more about love and sex than a Prince song, and that’s saying something. Setting the stage – say you’re drinking at your favorite saloon and a local tough just called a barmaid a wench while grabbing her arm. You would get up, punch the guy square in the jaw and fighting would commence. After you win (of course you would win because you’re a good guy and good guys always win), the barmaid would take you upstairs, clean your wounds and then she would sleep with you. Ah, the good old days, where all it took to get laid was risking personal safety. Say what you want, it’s still better than Tinder.
Alcoholism is a career option
In the Old West, being a drunk was a totally viable career option. In fact, it was damn near necessary. Every respectable town needed a town drunk. Why? How would you know who the respectable people were if there were no unrespectable people to compare? It wasn’t a bad living. You’d stumble out of bed, clock in for work stinking of whiskey, wearing the same clothes you went to bed in.
Fashion
In the Old West, wearing black meant you were a crappy person with no scruples or morals to speak of. In today’s society, wearing black usually means you’re a New Yorker, which to the rest of the world, coincidentally, means you’re a crappy person with no scruples or morals to speak of. In the Old West, all the bad guys wore black. So unless you were on the wrong side of the law, black was out of the question. Which is really too bad because black is really slimming. It’s a shame clothing can be so stigmatized.
Being a “man” may be a subjective thing in our modern times — but in the old West, there was a litmus test of manhood. Men had to be tough, brave rugged and tall. If you weren’t tall — that’s OK, you just had to have a complex about it and punch every third man you saw in the jaw. Why? Because you’re a man that’s why! But you also deeply loved your horse, you dog, and, while you didn’t show it, the few friends you have. You also stood up for what you believe in – sometimes when the odds are against you.
The 1966 classic The Good, the Bad and The Ugly is said to be best spaghetti Westerns ever made. Take a little time and enjoy the blending of Westerns, culture, art and more.