Last month, the government of Wisconsin published a public health emergency all over the district, claiming that there has been an outbreak of lung illnesses among young people and teens, and that vaping is the primary cause. This has resulted in over 100 cases of lung disease epidemics across the United States, as well as a recent fatality in Illinois, putting the anti-vaping brigade on high alert once more. Of course, this appears to be another attack on the vape business in the United States, but as we learn more about the situation, it becomes clear that while the victims all admitted to vaping, it was what they were vaping that caused the harm.
Over the previous few years, the availability and popularity of bootleg vaping have gradually increased, and we are only now facing the terrible truth of it. So, it's essential that you must know about Bootleg Vaping. Bootleg vaping refers to e-liquids sold by unauthorized sellers that are essentially home brews, produced with a variety of ingredients, including THC and synthetic compounds, to offer the user a different experience than a legal e-liquid.
We look at what ‘bootleg vaping' is and the economic and societal impacts it has in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as why these handmade devices and liquids are becoming so a value among the general population.
Bootleg vaping, as the title suggests, is the process of unauthorized tasters creating their own quantities of e-liquids to sell illegal or to drug dealers, who then sell to the general public. Many of the bootleg vapes available in the United Kingdom and the United States are really tampering with vaping products that may be utilized in regular vape pod devices. They are replaced with a mix of chemicals designed to produce a high after being cleared of their initial element (a standard legal e-liquid).
Many of the fake cartridges are thought to be THC-based, the same chemical found in marijuana that gives it its ‘high' effect, but many of them are really loaded with spice, synthetic cannabis.
These synthetic cannabinoids were developed in labs to serve as a substitute for regular THC in research on the effects of THC on the body. Cannabinoids are a family of chemicals that connect to cannabinoid receptors in the body, which are the same sites that THC and CBD bind to. However, synthetic cannabinoids may be up to 100 times stronger than natural THC, causing aberrant and hazardous effects when taken by humans.
These were marketed as "legal highs" in the early 2000s and were sold in absorbable or explosive forms on the shelves of head shops and specialty stores across the UK. Since the Physically addictive Substance Act went into force in 2016, they've shifted to being offered by shady internet sellers and drug traffickers claiming to be THC oils. As a result, numerous hazardous substances that have been mislabeled as something they aren't having been widely available at the touch of a button or a stroll down the street.
With the growing popularity of CBD oils, it might be difficult to know what is legal and what is not in the United Kingdom. CBD is an active component produced from the same cannabis as THC, which contains over 100 distinct cannabinoids with various effects on the body. While a tiny number of legal CBD products , such as oils and e-liquids, include trace amounts of THC, the Home Office maintains that a plant cultivated by an industrial hemp producer can have no more than 0.2 percent THC content and that the THC cannot be easily removed from it (finished products have even stricter limits on THC).
Although cannabis regulations vary by state in the United States, it is currently allowed to buy recreationally from a licensed dealer in 11 states, including California, Michigan, and Washington. This generally permissive attitude toward cannabis contrasts sharply with e-cigarette regulations, which are tightening at a rapid rate in response to growing pressure from the media and anti-vaping groups, as shown by the San Francisco e-cigarette bans.
In addition, cannabis vape pens have proven to be extremely popular in the United States, with superstars such as Snoop Dog and Ghost face Killah creating their own weed pen brands to great acclaim. These vape pens, of course, are regulated and have undergone a rigorous regulatory and testing procedure to ensure that they are reliable and non-harmful.
In contrast, the usual illicit bootleg vape you'll find on a shady website or on the street in the UK or US is likely to be packed with a variety of unlawful and dangerous substances, produced with no regard for the user's safety. These illegal e-liquids aren't to be believed, as shown by the recent increase in hospital admissions in the United States. We recommend that all e-liquid purchases be made through a reputable vendor such as us, even if the blend contains no CBD or nicotine.
As has been shown, the health consequences are severe, with over a hundred cases of lung disease among teens and young adults already recorded. With the health and safety of vape devices and e-liquids continuously critiqued by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the US and the MRHA (Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) in Europe until they are released, it's safe to say that if these victims were vaping lawful e-liquids, this increase in lung disease would not have been as severe or even occurred at all.
It might be claimed that the vape business is being harmed by these widely accessible bootleg vapes. When health news items like this make a sensation, they provide the media and anti-vaping activists an opportunity to further demonize e-cigarettes and blame vaping culture. It also undoes and contradicts all of the hard work that the vaping industry and public health groups have put in to promote the use of e-cigarettes as a less hazardous alternative to tobacco, notably in the United Kingdom. Second, as a result of these transactions, more money is being poured into the black market, weakening the vape sector and the economy in general.
In reality, other than the occasional closure or arrest, police can't do much to stop these unlawful physical and digital merchants. Taking on the issue as a whole is easier said than done, and it will require a massive worldwide police operation that is sadly not on the UK and US agendas (we all know how Nixon and Reagan's War On Drugs turned out). Any progress that can be made is via the education of young people, who are taught not to trust unfamiliar drugs, regardless of how readily available or inexpensive they are. Hopefully, the anti-vaping media and activists will eventually recognize that counterfeit, untested vape goods are the root of the problem.
Hopefully this article “You Must Know About Bootleg Vaping” is helpful for you. Check out our website at wizvape.co.uk for more details, or contact us if you have any questions about bootleg vaping or vaping in general.
Bootleg vapes are counterfeit, fake, or illegally manufactured vaping products that copy legitimate brands or contain undeclared/dangerous ingredients. They bypass safety regulations, lack quality control, use substandard materials, and pose serious health risks—sold through unofficial channels, social media, or unscrupulous retailers at suspiciously low prices.
Bootleg vapes risk: unknown toxic chemicals in e-liquid, heavy metal contamination, dangerous battery failures causing fires/explosions, incorrect nicotine levels (often higher than stated), vitamin E acetate (causes lung damage), pesticides in cannabis vapes, no quality control, and potential severe illness or death—multiple hospitalizations linked to counterfeit products.
Fake vape signs: suspiciously low prices (too good to be true), missing or poor-quality packaging, spelling errors on labels, no authentication codes, wrong fonts or colors on branding, missing safety warnings, no batch numbers/expiry dates, unusual taste or harshness, and sold by unauthorized sellers.
Counterfeit manufacturers prioritize profit over safety: use cheapest ingredients regardless of toxicity, skip expensive safety testing, employ dangerous battery cells, add unknown chemicals, exceed legal nicotine limits, manufacture in unsanitary conditions, and face no accountability for harm caused—completely unregulated and unsafe.
Bootleg vapes sold through: suspicious online marketplaces, social media direct sales, street vendors, corner shops ignoring regulations, unmarked websites with no company information, international sellers shipping illegally, and car boot sales—avoid any source that seems unofficial, unverified, or offers deals too good to be true.
Vitamin E acetate is an oil-based additive found in counterfeit THC vapes that caused EVALI (vaping lung injury) outbreak—1,600+ hospitalizations and 68 deaths in US. When inhaled, it coats lungs causing severe respiratory damage. Never found in legitimate nicotine vapes—only in illegal cannabis cartridges.
Not always, but extremely cheap prices are red flags. Legitimate budget brands exist (£3.50-5 disposables), but £1-2 disposables or drastically discounted premium brands are likely counterfeit. Check seller authorization, packaging quality, and authentication codes—legitimate discounts exist but suspicious bargains indicate fakes.
Verify authenticity by: checking scratch-off authentication codes on manufacturer websites, buying only from authorized retailers (WizVape is authorized), inspecting packaging quality and spelling, comparing to genuine products, checking batch numbers and expiry dates, and avoiding suspiciously cheap prices or unknown sellers.
If you suspect counterfeit: stop using immediately, report to Trading Standards (www.citizensadvice.org.uk), report seller to police or Crimestoppers (0800 555 111), seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms, provide details to regulatory authorities, and warn others. Never use suspicious products—safety over money.
Yes, counterfeit vapes using substandard batteries pose explosion risk—numerous cases of fake devices catching fire or exploding causing severe burns, house fires, and injuries. Legitimate manufacturers use quality battery cells with safety features; counterfeits use cheapest cells without protections—extremely dangerous fire hazard.
Reported health issues from counterfeit vapes: severe lung injury (EVALI), chemical pneumonitis, heavy metal poisoning, nicotine overdose, allergic reactions, respiratory infections, permanent lung damage, and deaths. Unknown chemicals in bootleg products cause unpredictable, potentially life-threatening health consequences—never worth the risk.
Yes, manufacturing and selling counterfeit vapes is illegal under: trademark infringement laws, consumer safety regulations (TPD in UK), trading standards violations, and fraud. Sellers face prosecution, heavy fines, imprisonment, and asset seizure. Buyers aren't prosecuted but use illegal products at own extreme health risk.
Counterfeit vapes are widespread problem: Trading Standards seize thousands monthly, online marketplaces flooded with fakes, estimated 20-30% of market in some areas. Popular brands (Elf Bar, Lost Mary, Geek Bar) most commonly counterfeited. Growing problem requiring consumer vigilance and purchasing from authorized retailers only.
Illegal vapes containing nicotine exceeding UK's 20mg/ml legal limit—some counterfeits contain 50mg+ (5%), causing severe nicotine poisoning risk especially in children. Also larger than legal 2ml capacity. These violate TPD regulations and pose serious overdose risks—report to authorities if encountered.
People buy fakes unknowingly (can't distinguish from genuine) or deliberately for lower prices, higher nicotine content (illegal strengths), larger capacities (illegal sizes), or unavailable flavors. However, risks far outweigh savings—severe health consequences, no consumer protection, and supporting criminal enterprises funding other crimes.
Retailers protect against counterfeits by: buying only from authorized distributors, verifying authentication codes, inspecting packaging quality before stocking, training staff to spot fakes, maintaining supplier documentation, pricing products appropriately (too cheap indicates fakes), and partnering with verified wholesalers like those supplying WizVape.
Buy genuine products from WizVape—authorized retailer of authentic brands including Vaporesso, Elf Bar, Lost Mary, SMOK, Aspire, and OXVA. We guarantee authentic products with proper safety testing, TPD compliance, valid authentication codes, quality assurance, and consumer protection—never risk your health with suspicious bargains from unauthorized sources.
