- IONIC Brands recently expressed its position and concerns in the wake of a nationwide health scare involving vape-related illnesses that have sickened hundreds and killed more than a dozen people
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged that it believes cannabis vapes purchased on the black market are the primary source of the illness cases
- IONIC Brands emphasized in a news release that it abides by applicable laws in states where it operates and that it doesn’t use additives that have become the focus of health officials’ investigation into vaping products
- The company temporarily stopped production in California, citing concerns about insufficient regulation of black market vape products that do contain potentially harmful additives
As concerns about the safety of vaping products have swept the nation without a clear explanation of what is causing vape-related illnesses, vape manufacturers have found themselves searching for answers, much like the consumers who enjoy their products. On September 27, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged that the vast majority of the reported vape-related illnesses are linked to cannabis products purchased on the black market instead of from reputable, law-abiding businesses (http://nnw.fm/7czqH).
IONIC Brands Corp. (CSE: IONC) (OTC: IONKF) (FRA: IB3) addressed the vaporizer concerns in a news release issued September 26, noting the company’s safety standards, its adherence to applicable laws and its desires for a stronger response to black market operations.
“This is not a cannabis issue. This is an illicit market issue that calls for more regulation, not less,” CEO and Chairman John Gorst stated in the news release (http://nnw.fm/C0Tz5). “We are aware of the pervasive dangers of black-market operators infiltrating legal markets with counterfeit, illegal and unregulated products. We strongly advise consumers to never use black market or illegal products, and to choose only tested and compliant products from licensed dispensaries.”
Gorst wrote that the health scare and the proliferation of black-market products in California has led the company to temporarily suspend production there in the world’s largest cannabis market until state regulators show a greater capacity to enforce the laws of the state.
“We are specifically concerned with the proliferation of these illegal and unregulated black-market products in California,” Gorst added. “We feel that it is too great a risk to our customers and shareholders and brands to continue production in California until regulators can take control of this problem.”
The CDC’s report was a response to various officials who have blamed flavored nicotine products in e-cigarettes for the illnesses. The report states that, as of September 27, 806 people in 46 states had become sick and 13 had died as an apparent result of the vape crisis, but only 16 percent of those sickened said they only used nicotine, leaving health officials to question whether some of the ill simply don’t want to acknowledge that they were using black market cannabis.
Marijuana media agency Leafly reported that same week that as many as 50 million cannabis cartridges could be tainted with lead, pesticides or residual solvent butane, with a particular focus on vitamin E acetate, which has reportedly become a favored oil used to cut the cannabis oil content and improve profits for black market operators (http://nnw.fm/tv1L0).
“All of our products are created using only the highest quality materials exclusively sourced from licensed producers of integrity, that use state of the art equipment, and ensure strict operating practices and procedures are followed. We have never and will never use any additives that contain vitamin E acetate, or any additives that are based on petrochemicals,” Gorst stated in the IONIC Brands news release.
While health officials and regulators continue to examine the situation, IONIC Brands hasn’t stopped developing its premium and luxury consumer portfolio according to the laws of the states in which it operates, and it is preparing to launch the first Bluetooth-enabled vaporizer and platform specifically designed for cannabis use within the next few weeks in an effort to further ensure safety through controlled dosing.
The company has six cannabis product lines in its stable, presented in three mood offerings for recreational use – rich sociability, serene relaxation and enlightened creativity (http://nnw.fm/9mYok).
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.IONIC.social
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IONKF are available in the company’s newsroom at http://nnw.fm/IONKF
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