The Truth Behind Illegal e-cigarette Sales in the UK

According to a report by Clearing the Air on January 14th, a researcher from ITV News in the UK recently contacted several labs in the country to request testing of e-cigarette samples to detect the presence of synthetic cannabis compounds (Spice). In their email, they specifically stated that this was in preparation for a report on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes and e-cigarette liquid in the UK. The email mentioned a desire to sample and test e-cigarettes and their e-liquids.

Although "Spice" is classified as an illegal substance in the UK, a recent investigation by the BBC found that a significant amount of illegal e-cigarettes contain the substance.

According to a study conducted by the University of Bath for the BBC, synthetic cannabinoids such as "Spice" have different severe effects than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and are associated with around half of prison deaths. The study also found that e-cigarettes containing "Spice" are being sold as cannabis e-cigarettes in British schools and are very common. All of these products are currently illegal and sold by drug dealers.

At this time, the Tobacco and e-cigarette Act is being debated in Parliament, which could give the UK government the power to ban flavors in legal e-cigarettes, but it does not cover e-cigarettes containing "Spice." An industry insider, in an interview with Clearing the Air, expressed concern that such reports may be used to scare legislators into supporting crackdowns on legal products, rather than helping to prevent drug dealers from selling already illegal products.

In 2019, American media reported that e-cigarettes were causing young people to develop acute respiratory illnesses, suggesting a link to legal nicotine e-cigarettes. Despite later findings that these cases were actually caused by illegal cannabis e-cigarettes containing vitamin E, prohibitionists continue to use this as an argument for banning legal e-cigarette products.

John Dunne, General Secretary of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), warned that...

Consumers can confidently purchase compliant nicotine e-cigarettes from any reputable e-cigarette supplier, as these products are designed to help them transition from traditional cigarettes. The media has been circulating alarmist reports such as "confiscated e-cigarettes from schools contain zombie flavoring," leading people to mistakenly believe that the nicotine e-cigarette industry is responsible for this new trend.

Unless the regulated e-cigarette market (which provides products that are at least 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes to adult smokers) is clearly distinguished from the illegal products supplied unofficially, people may remain wary of all e-cigarettes and smoking rates could potentially increase again.