Featured

Nicotine-Free Vapes Sold Online Found to Contain Nicotine

Published

2 years ago

September 30, 2023

admin

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.

Thanks for joining in! Welcome to our news site, Cannadelics.com; where you can find independent reporting of the drugs world at large; with a focus on cannabis and psychedelics. Don’t be a stranger, come around frequently to keep up. And check out the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter; for awesome product promotions, along with the news.

Source link

comfort food

Does Comfort Food Actually Help

Published

3 hours ago

March 31, 2025

admin

When sick or sad, people gravitate to comfort food – but does it make a difference?

Everyone gets down, stressed or just in a mood, and a number of people wants something to make them feel good. Comfort food is a go to indulgence which lifts the spirts. In North America, some top comfort foods include pot roast, lasagna, chocolate, ice cream and cookies….around the world it includes rice, yogurt, pizza, ramen, and boeuf bourguignon. It is an excuse to enjoy favorite flavors, but does comfort food actually help?

The answer is nuanced, as comfort foods can provide both emotional relief and potential drawbacks depending on the individual and circumstances. Comfort food has been shown to improve mood temporarily, especially for emotional eaters. Studies suggest that the palatability of food plays a significant role in mood enhancement, with tastier foods providing greater comfort during moments of sadness or stress. Emotional eaters often experience satisfaction and mood improvement after consuming comfort food, while non-emotional eaters may not derive the same benefit, particularly under stress. Additionally, comfort foods can evoke nostalgia and positive memories, acting as social surrogates that remind individuals of meaningful connections and moments of belonging.

vanilla flavor ice cream with chocolate syrup

From a physiological perspective, consuming sweet and fatty comfort foods can release dopamine and serotonin, chemicals linked to pleasure and mood elevation. This process can dampen stress responses in the body by reducing cortisol levels and activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, these effects are often short-lived and may lead to unhealthy eating habits if relied upon excessively.

While comfort foods can provide immediate emotional relief, they may also contribute to negative health outcomes if consumed excessively. High-calorie comfort foods rich in sugar and fat are associated with weight gain, metabolic risks, and increased likelihood of depression over time. This creates a feedback loop where individuals turn to unhealthy food to combat stress but experience worsening mental health as a result.

Interestingly, studies show that healthy alternatives like fruits and vegetables can offer similar mood-boosting benefits without the health risks associated with traditional comfort foods. Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids or dark chocolate in moderation can also enhance mood while supporting overall health. Social aspects of eating—such as sharing meals with loved ones—can amplify the emotional benefits of food without overindulgence.

Source link

Cannabis

This State’s Cannabis Revenue Keeps Pouring In

Published

7 hours ago

March 31, 2025

admin

States are starting to scramble with looming budget deficients, but marijuana is a boon to some – especially one state.

The new federal administration is revamping how the government operates. With Doge, they are changing agencies and reducing services and support of states, which has left budget deficients in many. But some states have legal marijana and it has been a boon, for like alcohol…people are still consuming. States who are fully legal are making more money on weed than booze and this state’s cannabis revenue keeps pouring in. Missouri, the show me state, is being shown unexpected revenue.

RELATED: Mike Johnson And Marijuana

“Due to a strong cannabis market and effective, efficient regulation of that market,” Amy Moore, director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, told The Independent this week, “the funds available for the ultimate beneficiaries of the cannabis regulatory program continue to outpace expectations.”

Funds will help veterans and other key projects. The other benefit is as seen in data from legal states, teen use is down so it frees up some other funds. Legal states are seeing benefits from legal cannabis including lower teen use and crime reduction.

States with legal cannabis are experiencing a significant boost in tax revenue, surpassing those generated by alcohol sales. This trend highlights the economic benefits of marijuana legalization, as cannabis markets expand and mature.

In California, cannabis excise taxes have consistently outperformed alcohol-related taxes, bringing in over double the revenue. Colorado has seen even more striking results, with marijuana tax revenues totaling seven times those of alcohol. Similarly, Massachusetts has collected more tax revenue from marijuana than alcohol since fiscal year 2021, marking a notable shift in state finances.

Nationally, legal cannabis states generated nearly $3 billion in excise taxes on marijuana in 2021—20% more than alcohol taxes. By 2024, total adult-use cannabis tax revenue exceeded $20 billion, with states like Illinois and Washington reporting record-breaking contributions. Illinois alone collected $451.9 million from cannabis taxes in fiscal year 2022—one-and-a-half times the revenue from alcohol.

The funds are being put to good use. States like Illinois are channeling marijuana tax dollars into mental health services and community programs, while Colorado has invested nearly $500 million into public education. California has allocated millions to nonprofits addressing the impacts of the war on drugs.

This growing revenue stream underscores the potential of cannabis legalization to support vital public services and bolster state economies. As more states embrace regulated marijuana markets, the financial benefits are expected to continue flourishing.

Source link

Cannabis

Mixed Messages From The Feds About Cannabis

Published

3 days ago

March 28, 2025

admin

The federal administration is all over the board around fed cannabis policy…and millions of patients are worried.

The industry employees over 440,000 workers at all lives and is driven in a large part by mom and pop businesses. Millions use medical marijuana for health issues ranging from chronic pain to sleep. But there are mixed messages from the feds about cannabis, and people are very worried. The federal government’s stance on marijuana has become increasingly complex, as recent developments show conflicting approaches to the drug’s potential benefits and risks. On one hand, there’s a push for research into medical marijuana for veterans, while on the other, a campaign against cannabis use is being launched.

The juxtaposition of initiatives highlights the federal government’s inconsistent approach to marijuana policy. While some departments are exploring the potential benefits of cannabis, others are actively working to discourage its use. This dichotomy is further exemplified by ongoing legislative efforts. For instance, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) has reintroduced the Veterans Equal Access Act, which would allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients in states where it’s legal. Meanwhile, documents from an ongoing lawsuit suggest that the DEA may have weighted the marijuana rescheduling process to ensure rejection of moving the drug from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has allocated nearly $10 million in funding for research into the therapeutic potential of MDMA for active-duty military members. This initiative, driven by congressional efforts, aims to explore MDMA’s effectiveness in treating conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) expressed pride in this development, stating that it could be a “game-changer” for service members battling these combat-related injuries.

Additionally, a bipartisan effort in Congress has been pushing for VA research on medical marijuana for PTSD and other conditions affecting veterans. The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act, introduced in both the Senate and House, would mandate studies on how cannabis affects the use of addictive medications and impacts various health outcomes for veterans.

In stark contrast to these research initiatives, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has partnered with an anti-cannabis nonprofit to launch a social media campaign targeting young people. The campaign, set to run ahead of April 20 (4/20), aims to “flood” Instagram with anti-cannabis content. The DEA is offering monetary incentives to students for creating and posting anti-THC videos, with payments ranging from $25 to $50 depending on the type of content produced.

This approach has raised eyebrows, as it seems to contradict the growing acceptance and legalization of marijuana across the United States. Critics argue that such campaigns may be out of touch with current societal trends and scientific understanding of cannabis.

Source link