Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Vaping scare burns shares of cannabis-related stocks

Vaping scare burns shares of cannabis-related stocks

Cannabis stocks are taking a hit from the vaping scare, and short-sellers are riding high.

Through Oct 1, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked vaping to 18 deaths in 15 states and 1,080 lung-injury cases nationwide.

While the cause of the health problems is unknown, proposed crackdowns are taking a toll on vaping, one of the fastest-growing sectors of the legal marijuana market.

The legal cannabis sector has attracted investments from major companies such as Constellation Brands, a Fortune 500 company that produces and markets beer, wine and spirits.

But the long-term outlook now appears uncertain. Investment firm Stifel Nicolaus cut its rating of Aurora Cannabis stock to sell from hold and slashed the price target, an estimate of a stock's fair value, by 30 percent.

Shares of Canada-based Canopy Growth, Aurora and Cronos Group are down about 29 percent each since Aug 1, and Tilray is down about 40 percent.

Short-sellers investors who bet that a stock's price will fall have benefited from the vaping controversy. S3 Analytics said short-sellers lost $1.78 billion when cannabis stocks jumped in the first quarter of 2019, but made $336 million in the second quarter and about $1.76 billion in the third quarter as shares fell amid concern about vaping.

US President Donald Trump has proposed a national ban on flavored vaping products, and the governors of major states, including New York and Massachusetts, have suggested similar bans. San Francisco has proposed a ban on all vaping products.

Vaping, the inhalation of vapor through the mouth from a battery-operated electronic device that heats and vaporizes a solid or liquid, initially was believed to be less harmful than smoking cigarettes, because there is no combustion of tobacco or the paper used to wrap it. While the cause of the health problems is unknown, the proposed crackdowns are taking a toll on vaping, one of the fastest-growing sectors of the legal marijuana market.

The CDC said 70 percent of those reporting health problems related to vaping are men under age 35 with a history of using tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive element in marijuana that gives users a "high". However, US government investigators have not conclusively linked the vaping illnesses and deaths to THC.

"No single product or substance has been linked to all lung injury cases," the CDC said in a report. "The outbreak is occurring in the context of a dynamic marketplace for e-cigarettes, or vaping, products, which may have a mix of ingredients, complex packaging and supply chains, and include potentially illicit substances."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
×