Earlier this year, I succumbed to the allure of vaping. Specifically, I indulged in flavored vapes manufactured in China's infamous 'Vape Valley' and sold across America.

Flavored nicotine vapes have been largely illegal in the US, yet convenience stores and tobacco shops have raked in billions from them in recent years, despite repeated attempts to curb their sale. Now, Chinese manufacturers have found a loophole: they're using little-studied chemicals called nicotine analogs that mimic regular nicotine's effects.

The consequences of these analogs are still unclear, but animal studies suggest one variant could be more potent and addictive than the real deal. These vapes might also contain other unknown ingredients like sweeteners and cooling agents, making their contents a mystery even to users. Congress tried to close this loophole in 2022, but it's already proving tricky for regulators.

The emergence of these analog vapes is not entirely new; tobacco companies have been researching them since the 1970s. But now they're cropping up in disposable vapes made by Chinese manufacturers, who are notorious for finding ways to sell their products despite regulation.