Do you even vape, bro?
Cannabis vape cartridges have gone from a niche product to one of the most popular consumption formats on the market. Yet many consumers who use them regularly have never stopped to ask what is actually inside those small cartridges they are inhaling from.
As makers of pure, food-grade terpenes, True Blue is invested in understanding what goes into cannabis vaping products. This article breaks down the hardware, the cutting agents, and the additives you are most likely to encounter, including the ones that caused a serious public health crisis in 2019 that reshaped the whole industry.
Hardware: Materials Matter for Flavor and Safety
Most vape companies source their cartridge hardware from overseas manufacturers, which makes consistent quality control difficult. The best cartridges for preserving flavor and potency without transferring unwanted compounds are generally made from stainless steel with a ceramic heating core. Avoid cartridges with plastic components or low-grade wiring, both of which can degrade at vaping temperatures and introduce compounds into the vapor stream that were never intended for inhalation.
Terpenes as a Cutting Agent: The Industry Shift Away from PEG
In the early days of cannabis vaping, many manufacturers used polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a cutting agent to thin viscous cannabis oil. PEG has been found to be contaminated with ethylene oxide in some cases, a compound classified as a carcinogen, and its use has declined significantly as awareness of this risk spread through the industry.
The industry gradually moved toward using pure terpenes as a more natural alternative. Terpenes are already present in cannabis and are effective at reducing oil viscosity. That said, not all terpenes used in vape products are equal. It is important to verify that any terpenes in your cartridge are food-grade, clearly sourced, and free from synthetic additives. True Blue's terpene products meet these criteria. If you prefer complete control over what goes into your product, you can also formulate your own vape liquid using our pure terpenes.
EVALI: What the 2019 Vaping Crisis Changed
In 2019, a nationwide outbreak of severe lung injuries linked to vaping emerged across the United States. The condition was named EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury). By early 2020, over 2,800 hospitalized cases and at least 68 deaths had been reported to the CDC, with the majority linked to THC-containing vape products.
The primary culprit identified by the CDC and FDA was Vitamin E Acetate (tocopheryl acetate), an additive used by some manufacturers as a cutting agent in THC oil cartridges. The CDC confirmed that Vitamin E Acetate was found in the lung fluid of over 90 percent of EVALI patients tested and has stated clearly that it should never be added to any vaping product. MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides from coconut oil) was also investigated as a potential contributing factor in some cases. While its role was less definitively established than Vitamin E Acetate's, many formulators and safety-conscious manufacturers now avoid MCT oil in products intended for inhalation as a precautionary measure.
Anyone who experiences respiratory symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or fever after vaping, should seek medical attention promptly and inform their provider of their vaping history. These symptoms can indicate serious lung injury.
Other Common Cutting Agents and Additives
Beyond the compounds discussed above, several other additives appear commonly in cannabis vape cartridges. Understanding them helps you make more informed choices as a consumer or formulator.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
Propylene glycol is one of the most common cutting agents in cannabis oil cartridges. It is recognized by the US FDA as generally safe for food and oral use. It is important to note that this designation applies to consumption, not inhalation. PG can cause throat irritation in some users when vaped, and some research has examined potential respiratory effects from inhaled PG. Some consumers and producers choose to avoid it in inhalable products on precautionary grounds.
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
Vegetable glycerin is used in some cartridges as a flavor-neutral thinner and to increase vapor production. It generally causes fewer cases of allergy or irritation than PG when vaped, though it too is subject to ongoing research regarding inhalation safety. Like PG, its FDA safety designation is based on oral and food use, not inhalation. The PMC review of EVALI research noted VG as a compound that was investigated in the context of the outbreak, though its specific role was not conclusively established.
Vitamin E Acetate
Vitamin E Acetate should never appear in a cannabis vaping product. As described above, it was identified as the primary cause of the EVALI outbreak. Any cartridge from an unknown or unverified source may contain it, particularly products purchased through informal channels. This is one of the strongest arguments for buying from licensed, tested sources and knowing what is in the product you are inhaling.
What to Look For in a Cannabis Vape Cartridge
The safest vape cartridges use as few additives as possible, rely on pure terpenes rather than synthetic cutting agents, and come from manufacturers who provide clear ingredient disclosure and third-party lab testing. Stainless steel and ceramic hardware is preferable over plastic or low-grade metal components. Avoid products purchased through informal channels, as these are far more likely to contain undisclosed additives including Vitamin E Acetate.
If you want to formulate your own cannabis vaping products using clean, food-grade terpenes as the only cutting agent, browse True Blue's full selection of strain-profile terpenes or our complete catalog to get started.