The CDC has officially announced that THC - the psychoactive substance in marijuana, is the common denominator behind the cases of illness that have affected over 1600 people in the United States.
UPDATE: It has been found that the common denominator for the lung damage was the substance e-acetate. A substance used to dilute THC in e-liquid.
"Evidence collected continues to point to products containing THC. We don't know exactly what substance causes the disease but THC may be a marker that points to risks with how a particular type of liquid or container is made or how it is used." says the CDC chief Anne Schuchat i Washington Post
Thc and cannabis
With over half of the 1600 cases reviewed by the CDC, 83 percent of the illnesses are directly linked to THC products (according to information provided by the patients). In some states, the figure is 92 percent, according to the CDC.
For the rest of the cases, the products are either unknown or, according to the testimony of the injured, linked to certain nicotine products. However, according to several sources, this information should be seen in the light of the fact that THC and cannabis are illegal in some states and that the information does not necessarily correspond to reality.
Unregulated sources
Cannabis is legal to produce and sell in several US states. Ann Schuchat has emphasized that the THC products linked to lung damage come predominantly from unregulated sources.
"Although the vast majority have become ill from THC products, they have also reported using pre-filled tanks with THC obtained through informal sources and not through legal outlets. At least that's what we know today, but we are still collecting data" said Anne Schuchat at a hearing in one of the US Congress' health committees, according to the newspaper Marijuana Moment which monitors the cannabis market in the United States.
E-cigarettes less harmful
In the UK, where the sale of cannabis is illegal, the health authority has warned against THC-filled pods bought on the street. However, they urge vejpers who use regular e-liquid with nicotine to continue using the regulated products sold in the country.
"Smoking kills 200 people every day in the UK. We remain absolutely certain that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than regular cigarettes and that smokers should consider switching to e-cigarettes instead" says John Newton, British Health Authority to The Sun.
Not linked to regular e-cigs
Public Health of England also published a commentary on recent events in the US on its Public Health Matters blog:
"We need to be clear about what this outbreak is about and what it is NOT about: it is NOT linked to long-term use of e-cigarettes with nicotine. If it were, we would see a very different spread and harms in very different populations", writes Professor John Newton on Public Health Matters
You can read more at Vejpkollen:
UK researchers sound alarm: misinformation about e-cigarettes spreading
