Contaminants or counterfeit substances are being considered a likely cause of vaping-related lung illnesses.
State and federal health authorities are narrowing possible culprits to adulterants in vaping products purported to have THC. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued a statement warning that “anyone who does use e-cigarette products should not buy these products off the street (e.g., e-cigarette products with THC or other cannabinoids) and should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer.”
Former FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, wrote on Twitter, "The legal vapes have been actively regulated by FDA since Aug 2017. FDA has conducted thousands of inspections of manufacturers and vape stores, published manufacturing guidance, sought product removals, etc. These [illnesses] point to illegal vapes and THC.”