Liquid marijuana in vapes prompts call for city shop inspections

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) is pushing for a multi-agency task force to conduct regular inspections of vape shops.

The push follows the recovery of a vape device containing suspected liquid marijuana in a drug operation.

Iñigo Garingalao, executive director of ICAST, said the proposed task force would strengthen monitoring of vape shops, noting that ICAST’s mandate is limited mainly to enforcing local laws against cigarette smoking and vaping.

The proposed joint inspection team would include ICAST, the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other health agencies, with augmentation from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“There should be a joint inspection which will include us, and our health agencies should also look into this issue … because I agree that this is alarming,” Garingalao said in an interview on Wednesday.

“We also call on our concerned agencies, like the DTI and FDA, to start checking the vape shops not just here but also in the province to ensure that these products are not illegally sold,” he added.

Under Republic Act 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, which lapsed into law in 2022, the DTI serves as the primary regulator of vape products.

Garingalao recommended that the proposed task force conduct periodic inspections of existing vape shops.

He also said monitoring should extend to online sales platforms, where illicit e-liquids and untraceable vaping products may be offered.

Beyond ICAST’s mandate

Garingalao said ICAST would leave coordination with courier companies to PDEA to help prevent the delivery of liquid marijuana through vaping products, unless ICAST is formally deputized to take on the role.

“We cannot do that in ICAST since our mandate is smoking and vaping. In fact, the awareness campaign that we do is already over and above our role,” he said.

He added that even if ICAST were deputized, taking on drug-enforcement duties would be difficult because of its limited manpower.

Molo drug bust

Garingalao made the statement after police recovered suspected dried marijuana leaves, high-grade marijuana or kush, and a vape device containing suspected liquid marijuana during a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Pedro, Molo.

The suspect is a 21-year-old man who allegedly promoted the liquid marijuana through social media.

Police said his marijuana supply came from Manila.

Marijuana remains a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which penalizes the sale, distribution, possession, and transportation of dangerous drugs, among other offenses.

Training needs

Garingalao said ICAST personnel also need specialized training to determine whether a confiscated vape device contains an illegal substance and how to handle it properly during operations.

“I want ICAST to be trained. I will request that from the concerned agency — how, for example, after we have confiscated the device, are we going to identify if it contains marijuana?” he said.

At present, ICAST confiscates vape devices from minors only for safekeeping.

The devices are released to their parents or guardians after the corresponding penalties are imposed.

Garingalao said ICAST personnel also need additional training for nighttime operations, particularly in dealing with adult vape users who may later be found using devices containing liquid marijuana.