Why Are Vaping Devices Sometimes Associated with Illegal Drugs?

Why are e-cigarettes sometimes associated with illegal drugs? When talking about drugs, people often think of terms like heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Nowadays, new types of drugs are emerging, and substances like bubble tea, popping candy, and chocolate may be mixed with drugs, making it difficult for people to guard against them.
 

Why are e-cigarettes banned as drugs?

Because some criminals use this new type of cigarette substitute as a cover to engage in drug trafficking. There have been multiple cases where drugs were hidden in e-cigarettes that have been adjudicated. These cases first appeared in 2017, with most of the e-cigarettes containing drugs coming from abroad and many containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

This type of e-liquid can be consumed using ordinary e-cigarette devices, making it low-threshold and highly discreet. From a technical standpoint, cannabis can be used in e-cigarette products, making it more convenient than smoking it as tobacco, with higher purity.

The e-liquid contains high-purity cannabis extracts, which are more addictive and deceptive than traditional cannabis. "Ordinary people cannot tell the difference between a regular e-cigarette and one that has cannabis e-liquid added. Moreover, regular cannabis usually requires two or three puffs to develop a dependency, while the cannabis in e-liquid is of higher purity, and just one puff can lead to addiction. Once addicted, it can cause disruption of bodily functions and reduced heart and lung function.

There is also a type of e-cigarette known as 'heady e-cigarettes.'

This 'heady e-cigarette' is actually the infamous 'cannabis e-cigarette,' which has a fundamentally different composition from regular e-cigarettes. The main components of regular e-cigarettes are water, propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings, while this 'e-cigarette' has been adulterated by criminals with new psychoactive substances, including synthetic cannabinoids similar to 'Natasha' and tetrahydrocannabinol as one of its main components.

This 'cannabis e-cigarette' is about 30cm long, with a colorless, yellow to brown viscous liquid, and looks very similar to a regular e-cigarette, often found in bars, KTVs, and other entertainment venues, where groups of people gather to consume it, making it highly deceptive due to its appearance resembling a regular e-cigarette.

Finally, normal e-cigarettes do not contain drugs; they contain qualified e-liquids, so when purchasing e-cigarettes, it is essential to distinguish clearly.