The Oregon Liquor Control Commission Thursday banned vitamin E acetate from inhaled cannabis products.
Public health investigators with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have identified vitamin E acetate as the potential ingredient causing the national outbreak of vaping-related illnesses.
Forty-two people, including two in Oregon, have died from the illness, according to a news release from the OLCC.
Previously, the OLCC had not expressly allowed or banned vitamin E acetate from being mixed into cannabis vaping products.
Based on the CDC’s findings, the OLCC has determined that vitamin E acetate is an “adulterant,” or an ingredient which is “foreign, inferior, poisonous or deleterious.”
This action by the commission supports the public health finding. The ingredient would still be allowed in non-inhaled products such as lotions and edibles.
“We’re making it clear that to protect consumer health we will vigorously scrutinize what goes into marijuana products sold in Oregon’s legal marketplace,” Steve Marks, OLCC executive director, said in a news release. “The commission is taking steps with our regulatory partners to put in place additional consumer safeguards.”
Marks said the commission has discussed establishing a state-run reference lab for regulators to test cannabis products.
Last week, the Oregon Court of Appeals blocked Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's imposed temporary ban on flavored cannabis vaping products. Flavors are separate from the vitamin E acetate additive.
This means Oregon retailers can continue to sell flavored vaping products while the lawsuit continues.