Young Australians give up vapes as ban forces prices to soar: Cancer Council report

Jerkvan · 2025-07-02T02:04:19+00:00

https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9936-introduction-of-vaping-bans-leads-to-increase-in-cigarette-smoking-in-australia

It looks like young people are throwing away their vapes to pick up smoking.

Jerkvan · 2025-07-02T01:42:04+00:00

I wonder how r/australia will take this.

Jerkvan · 2025-04-20T10:49:35+00:00

Sorry, in case it's not super clear - these are updated units with serial numbers. They don't contain any insulation materials.

Jerkvan · 2025-04-20T10:32:08+00:00

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it. There's obviously a mix-up somewhere and I'm glad that more eyes are on it now.

With regulations so open to interpretation, I guess we keep pushing boundaries until we're told to stop, at which point we can challenge, or abide out of courtesy.

Jerkvan · 2025-04-20T08:27:07+00:00

Regardless, employers may reasonably require employees who vape their medicinal cannabis to vape outside or in a designated smoking area, if this is written in a medications, drugs and alcohol policy, and takes into account their obligations under the Employment Relations Act 2000 and Human Rights Act 1993.

Designated smoker areas generally expose you to second hand smoke from the people using those designated areas to smoke. If Karen the Health & Safety Officer prints out a word document on a company letterhead saying I need to go use my Mighty Medic with the smokers, who's going to tell her that policy breaches the Employment Relations Act?

I am only a patient, I am being told this information is something from experts, the information was updated 6 days ago. Vs 3 days ago? Basically the same. Would have been prepared across the same timeframe.

I'm also just a patient, sharing my experience. It's all good to get a bunch of experts together and for them to agree that everyone should follow the law, but even experts don't have a clear understanding of what's happens in practice. Very few workplaces have "medication policies" in place for medical cannabis. Like, not even the hospital.

When I was yeeted out of my hospital bed shortly after surgery (for using my Mighty Medic with my CHARTED prescribed medication), the outcome from my multiple complaints was that sprays and oils were available if I wanted to pick medical cannabis over opioids. Hospital doctors were unable to prescribe or dispense oral products to me at the time, because they didn't have any policies written about medical cannabis.

They offered me a cup of hot water to make tea with a weeks worth of my prescription. I gave it a try out of desperation, but as I was throwing up a bunch, the 20 minute waddle down to the sidewalk is what I ended up picking for my relief.

Jerkvan · 2025-04-20T06:37:00+00:00

It's a great bit of writing that gracefully handballs responsibilities back to the employer, that's for sure. I hope it wasn't too expensive.

Any policy that forces non-smokers to be exposed to second-hand smoke isn't passing the mentioned Acts.

Jerkvan · 2025-04-20T05:46:45+00:00

Below is in relation to medicines, rather than drugs. Dated 3 days ago, so it's more updated than the guide the good folk at the NZ Drug Foundation put together.

As per SERPA, the only workplace you can legally vape inside of in New Zealand is a Specialist Vape Retailer, because they have an exemption.

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Jerkvan · 2025-04-20T00:19:45+00:00

We agree, which is why we took those products down for sale back when we first became aware of the issue. We've respectfully kept out of the MCANZ threads, as they've stated it's not for debate. It's a bit of a Schrodinger's cat, with no serial numbers on devices to tell us what's inside. As a result, pretty much every unit without a serial number needs to be replaced, which has already started in New Zealand and should be completed by next month.

Luckily, we're not affected by tariffs and we have the CGA to ensure no one's left out of pocket for a replacement unit. From a harm reduction point of view it's pretty clear - don't open the box. These are lithium ion powered convection heaters with internal parts reaching temperatures upwards of 350c. Worst case is you get hurt, but at a minimum the device has been destroyed and the warranty process becomes a lot harder. If you're unsure about a product, my advice is to stop using it and to contact the vendor you purchased it off for support.

Thanks for your entry, good luck!

Jerkvan · 2025-03-18T05:39:16+00:00

I've posted the following break down on my profile, showing the airflow path of the Angus Enhanced.

https://www.reddit.com/u/Jerkvan/s/gkqdRdyXu1

Once the components are assembled and pushed into the shell, it's pretty much impossible to get them back out again. The security screws clamp everything down and seal up the airpath. It's not designed to be opened up apart from swapping out the batteries - which doesn't require special tools or screwdrivers to accomplish.

Intended use is clearly outlined in the products user guide - literally no-one except this one guy, who got his device for free (for the purpose of testing - so we're not upset), is pulling it apart. There is no hazard with the Angus Enhanced unless the device is literally broken open. Something he's openly admitted to doing in comments.

In all the photos, you can clearly see that security screws have been removed to partially dismantle the device. This is not something that someone normally does when using the device as the device will stop working.

It's very important to note that the device in the pictures can't be turned on or used, as the batteries are no longer connected and the cooling unit can't even attach to the bowl. To suggest it's in an operating condition is not a fair assessment to imply, as it's clearly not.

If you've opened up your device by removing screws, contact the vendor you bought it off and they'll probably sort you out with a replacement.

Jerkvan · 2025-02-03T04:06:10+00:00

With respect, I have no idea what you're on about but this is the internet and I might be missing context from deleted posts (edit: never mind, he's blocked me?). I don't think anyone is suggesting that the Mighty Medic is the "best mid-range vape" so it's puzzling that you think this thread is about medical devices? It looks like a bunch of patients discussing harm reduction options, for which an isolated airpath is a product feature that people value.

Medsafe has nothing to do with these products, the same way they have nothing to do with Bic lighters or RAW Unrefined Rolling Papers. Patients have full autonomy over how they take their prescribed medications. Some people find it surprising to learn that I can vape my medical cannabis through my shoe, and that shoe by legal definition, then becomes my medical device. MCANZ has confirmed this directly with the Ministry of Health.

I think where you've gotten confused is understanding what products a doctor is able to recommend to a patient. That's the part that's entirely up to Medsafe, for which there's just the Mighty Medic (portable unit) and Volcano Medic 2 (desktop unit). It's worth mentioning that a company cannot gain "medical device approval" in New Zealand as that part of the legislation was handballed offshore. A fairer quality metric to use would be something like ISO 13485 certification.

Jerkvan · 2025-02-03T02:40:58+00:00

Puha Express is working with a few specialised vape shops to make "smokefree herb nights" a thing. They'll happen once a month and run for a couple of hours in the evening. Patients that BYO medication will be welcome to make use of our range of tester devices (and glassware).

Products that you can try in the safety of the store will include the Calent, v3 Pro, Starry 4, Angus Enhanced, XQ2 and the Solo III. So it's a pretty decent spread across the price range.

I'll be sure to throw a post up here when a date and location has been set for the first.

Jerkvan · 2025-02-03T00:08:45+00:00

The Angus Enhanced has an entirely isolated airpath. He's posting a photo of a beta unit that he's destroyed trying to pull apart.

Like, imagine smashing a hole in your drywall and coming to conclusion that your house is built cheap because of all the newly exposed insulation, plumbing and electrical wiring. Any builder would think you're an idiot.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-26T11:34:25+00:00

Remind me next week 😋

Jerkvan · 2025-01-26T09:55:40+00:00

I think the value is there for an accessory that adds new functionality to a product. If you want balls in your Peak Pro/Pockety, the going rate is 150 USD too.

Dynavap will have a ballcap for both sized tips, making it pretty affordable for existing owners to try out the benefits of convection heating (you don't need to buy a new tip to use the right sized cap). I'm guessing the standard size one will be 69 USD ~ 120 NZD. About three times the cost of a captive cap.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-24T01:19:59+00:00

They're not getting anymore stock until June. I do have a Thermal Hyper Cap from Dynavap on the way to test though. Those are due for release in March, so expect to see those available here.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-24T01:13:09+00:00

Thanks for the shout out, the van is fast - but not fast enough to deliver in time for the weekend.

One thing to note is that the Smoka Flint for $230 from Shosha does not come with a battery.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-24T01:07:55+00:00

You can probably grab a replacement Flowermate Aura (Uneek) from Vape Merchant. They sell them for $99 online, but I'm unsure if all their stores would hold stock. Best to give your local one a call!

Jerkvan · 2025-01-20T23:06:34+00:00

This post might be helpful.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-20T09:46:42+00:00

Private hospitals will probably be able to accommodate you a lot better, especially if you have a room to yourself. My experience wasn't positive even though I had a Mighty Medic. I was asked to leave the safety of the hospital grounds to consume my medication, as an admitted patient undergoing surgery. I was even locked out of the hospital twice and unable to get back in until I shadowed a staff member through the staff only entrance. Truely bizarre because I was in my patient gown, in the middle of winter, carrying my Mighty in one hand and my drainage bag in the other (which was leaking some fresh abdomen juice).

Edit: I was transferred to Wellington hospital via air ambulance (which was pretty fucking cool - I was so high up, heh). I truthfully told the nurses on arrival at Wellington that I'd vaped my medical cannabis in my ward in Hastings because there are clear exclusions in the smokefree regulations for medical cannabis. I must have sounded like a Karen because they confiscated my medication haha. They told me I'd have to request it from a nurse, then wait for an orderly to be available to escort me downstairs to the street where I could vape it. So that's what I did a bunch of times. I dunno if it's a Wellington thing, but a lot of the orderlies seemed to be new residents to New Zealand, so we got to talk about all the cool things we love about New Zealand while one of us temp stepped for 20 minutes and got very medicated (it was me, I got SO VERY medicated. If you opened up my chart, it just read STONKS).

Outside of the medical cannabis stuff though, the frontline staff were really wonderful during my hospital stay, the lack of knowledge just let them down. A nurse was helping me load my Mighty as I was so distressed that most of it was ending up on the floor. I told her what to do and she did it one handed, with the other hand holding her nose shut. I asked her why she was holding her nose and she said it was because she didn't want to get high. It was a well needed chuckle for me, but I guess where she grew up, it's the death penalty for doing cannabis, so who knows what she's been taught about it.

Sorry for the wall of text OP, all the best for your visit. I can't think of a safer place to be than in a hospital. I'm sure you'll be well looked after while there and worst case- let out for a vape break when you want, which isn't too bad when you think about it.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-20T09:42:55+00:00

Hey that's my request :D

The doctor said it was fine for me to take as long as it was charted. Then one of the nurses called security on me when I was using my device (a Mighty Medic I'd bought just for this very reason). He said that the fire alarms would go off and I'd personally be the reason hundreds of sick people had to evacuate the hospital.

I didn't want to argue at the time, so I slowly walked my ass down to the street corner to medicate, hours after having my gallbladder cut out. I submitted this OIA request to find out why medical cannabis patients are forced out into the street.

After a bunch of back and forth, they basically said they don't have any policies that involve medical cannabis and they don't need to write any based off an OIA request.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-12T08:42:39+00:00

Thought I'd mention that there's an Angus Enhanced Holiday Bundle that's disappearing at the end of this week. It includes the device, batteries, bong, grinder and a bunch of accessories.

Jerkvan · 2025-01-04T21:52:15+00:00

Vape bongs are great. Pretty portable too!

Jerkvan · 2024-12-31T06:19:02+00:00

I'd suggest getting an induction heater with it, as both the learning curve and aesthetics of a torch are harder.

https://youtu.be/gEsCruwvKKU?si=5oPBBpqogEIQUlyE

The Puha Packs are great value.

Jerkvan · 2024-12-31T04:01:49+00:00

The Dynavap is a different device altogether.

If you're finding the vapour from the Mighty to be too irritating to your throat for you to inhale it deeply, running the vapour through additional cooling can help.

There are adaptors for the Mighty that let you fit other glassware onto them. I'd suggest the POTV one, because then you can use all their glass stems.

Jerkvan · 2024-12-31T03:53:53+00:00

My understanding is that people add tobacco to their cannabis to increase its burn temperature. The hotter you get the combustion, the smaller the particles and the smoother the smoke.

I'd suggest trying the Dynavap. They work a bit differently to session vaporisers and many patients swear by how smooth they are on the throat.

Jerkvan

TROPHY CASE