Seaside police warn parents to monitor their children’s online purchases

Seaside police said there has been an increase in the number of THC vape devices being sold to youth, and as a result, police are encouraging parents to monitor what their children buy online.

The vape devices can be bought with prepaid debit cards, and the only safety check is a pop-up asking if the buyer is over the age of 18. It does not confirm if the buyer is telling the truth.

Police said the cartridges look like the cartridges used to smoke nicotine but can also be disguised as electronics like USB flash drives. Because the THC is odorless, parents and teachers may not know what kids are using.

The FDA calls teen e-cigarette use an epidemic. The CDC reports that teen use increased by about 80% in one year, and the National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that the use of vape pens or e-cigarettes to ingest THC or marijuana has increased dramatically.

Police ask that parents open packages that come in the mail because vaping devices may have been ordered online without consent. They also encourage parents to talk to their children about the dangers and health consequences of the products.