How E-Cigarettes Lead to Heroin
WNBC, the network-owned TV station in New York City, discovers that nicotine is not the only drug delivered by e-cigarettes:
More and more, people are smoking marijuana out of e-cigarettes and vapor pens—right out in the open with little or no fear of getting caught, users and experts say….
Experts say marijuana doesn't emit the telltale odor when it is smoked, in liquid or wax forms, in an e-cigarette or vaporizer. What's more, since there is no flame, it's easy for the user to stash in a pocket right after taking a puff.
But while marijuana use by adults may be becoming more accepted by some, local law enforcement officials and drug counselors say illegal drugs in e-cigarettes are a danger, especially if minors catch on to the trend….
"I care a lot about it," said Detective Lt. Kevin Smith, who heads the Narcotics Unit for the Nassau County Police Department. "For young people, marijuana is a gateway. The next thing you know they're doing acid, molly, even heroin. I don't like it that people are giving it a pass."….
"Once you try electronic cigarettes, you can become hooked to them, move on to cigarettes and then move on to other drugs," [Assemblywoman Linda] Rosenthal said.
WNBC thus proves once again that pretty much any cool innovation can be viewed with alarm if only we think of the children. But it got scooped on this story by anti-smoking activist John Banzhaf, who more than three years ago added facilitation of cannabis consumption to his list of reasons for fearing and loathing e-cigarettes.
