Officials are urging Minnesotans *not* to vape THC products purchased on the black market, after the state Health Department confirms Minnesota’s first known death associated with vaping. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says, “In Minnesota, of the cases who have been personally interviewed by investigators, all of them so far report vaping illicit THC products.”
Officials say the person who died was over 65 years old and had a “history of underlying lung disease and was hospitalized with a severe lung injury that progressed to include other conditions.” So far Minnesota has 17 confirmed or probable cases with an additional 15 under investigation. Officials say at this point no Minnesota cases have been associated with cannabis vaporization products acquired solely through the state’s medical cannabis program — but Malcolm says until they’ve determined a specific cause, they cannot be certain there’s no risk.