LANSING – Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency is moving to ban a diluting agent used in vape pens that could be harmful to consumers.
Starting Oct. 1, the cannabis oil used in vape pens will have to be tested for MCT (medium chain triglycerides) oil before those products make it to store shelves, according to a Thursday news release announcing the new requirement.
“From a public health and safety standpoint, the potential for adverse effects with MCT oil underscores the importance of safety guidelines for product development,” Brian Hanna, executive director of the CRA, said in the release.
The new requirement comes a few months after the CEO of a cannabis testing company with a lab in Michigan raised concerns with the Detroit Free Press about the presence of potentially harmful substances, like MCT oil (which is derived from coconut oil), in cannabis products.
This move follows actions taken by other states, like Colorado. The state banned MCT oil in marijuana products intended for inhalation following the outbreak of vaping-related lung illnesses in 2019.
That same year, just before sales of recreational marijuana began in Michigan, the state mandated a temporary halt to the sale of marijuana vapes because of the vaping-related illnesses and deaths associated with vitamin E acetate, which had been used to dilute THC to make it easier to fill illicit market vape cartridges.
While MCT oil is a food-safe ingredient, similar to vitamin E acetate, scientists say inhaling these substances can lead to inflammation of the lungs, which can turn into illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Robin Schneider, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, said in the news release that several of the association’s retail members have already been proactively pulling products off their shelves and testing their inventory to ensure products from the brands they sell don’t contain MCT oil.
“Moving forward, this testing will take place before the retailers purchase inventory from producers, easing the burden on retailers and ensuring that the products they sell are safe,” she said.
Read more at Detroit Free Press