Mass. marijuana regulators quarantine all non-medical vape products
Photo/Vaping360/Flickr
The only vape products allowed to be sold in Massachusetts as of Nov. 12 are those for medical marijuana use.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission on Tuesday placed a quarantine on nearly all vape products, reinforcing Gov. Charlie Baker's four-month ban on everything but medical devices.
While allowing for medical-use marijuana vaping devices designed exclusively for cannabis flower, the CCC quarantined all vape pens, vape cartridges, aerosol products, and inhalers while it determines the best path forward following the nationwide outbreak of vape-related lung injuries, which has resulted in at least three Massachusetts deaths, including one man from Worcester County.
The announcement followed two decisions last week: Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Douglas Wilkins ruling the CCC has the sole authority to regulate marijuana products in the state; and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention linking vitamin E acetate to the vape-related lung injuries.
On Sept. 24, Baker announced a four-month ban on all vape products in response to the lung-related injuries, but the CCC fought against the ban on marijuana vaping, particularly for medical patients. The ban for medical marijuana vaping was lifted Tuesday.
In the quarantine ruling on Tuesday, the CCC said because its regulations didn't require testing for vitamin E acetate, it is possible legal marijuana products sold in the state contain that or other harmful ingredients of concern. It is working with marijuana manufacturers and retailers to figure out what ingredients were used in the vape products as well as with testing laboratories to find out how to test for vitamin E acetate.
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