CDC says most lung illnesses came from vapes with THC

Friday, September 27, 2019
CDC says most lung illnesses came from vapes with THC
CDC says most lung illnesses came from vapes with THC: Ali Gorman reports during Action News at 5pm on September 27, 2019.

We're getting more clues, though still no single cause, to the lung ailments that's hit more than 800 e-cigarette users.

According to the CDC, 77% of people with that lung illness used vapes with THC from marijuana.

However, many also used nicotine products, so at this point, health officials urge people to refrain from using all vaping products, but especially those with THC.

The CDC says almost all involve pre-filled, pre-packaged cartridges, not ones users add to.

But they include more than 200 different products, with dozens of different brands, both legitimate and counterfeit.

Two-thirds were branded "Dank Vapes," however, that's been a common name on many bootleg products seized by police.

"This may be more complicated than we think, in terms of more than one product being risky, more than one product, and more than one substance within the product," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, deputy director of the CDC.

Los Angeles just launched a campaign to counter the belief of many young people that vaping is harmless.

The campaign, titled "your body knows" warns vaping can raise heart rates and blood pressure, and can lead to lung diseases.

The American Vaping Association says the ads are misleading.

It blames the lung ailments on black market cartridges.

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