At dusk, after the bells ring, a quiet silence descends on campus. Instead of the hum of reading, a lingering, unpleasant air of anxiety and unease permeates. A new danger is quietly emerging on Dutch high and middle school campuses: some so-called “THC cartridges” or “herbal vapes” resemble traditional cannabis vaping products or simply nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. However, laboratory analysis has revealed that many of these products do not contain natural cannabis THC, but rather more potent and dangerous synthetic cannabinoids. These substances are unstable, potent, and carry high risks, leading students who initially experimented out of curiosity to face medical emergencies, psychological crises, and even legal consequences.
The news first emerged from investigations by schools, health authorities, and media outlets across the Netherlands. Schools in Amsterdam, Delft, Utrecht, and Amersfoort reported that students experienced dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, and even fainting after using vaping devices on campus. Ambulances were urgently summoned to the campus, their lights streaking across the night sky. An investigation revealed that many of the e-cigarettes and vaping devices used by students were either mislabeled as containing THC (the main hallucinogenic ingredient in marijuana) or were not clearly labeled at all, but actually contained synthetic cannabinoids, substances banned in the Netherlands under the Opium Act.
Synthetic cannabinoids are fundamentally different from natural cannabis. THC in natural cannabis works in conjunction with various other compounds in the cannabis plant, resulting in its hallucinogenic and pharmacological effects, though risky, for the general public. Synthetic cannabinoids, on the other hand, are often simply molecules created by chemists in the laboratory. They can be many times more potent than natural THC and have more erratic side effects. Even small amounts can cause severe adverse reactions: seizures, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, confusion, panic attacks, and even coma. Students, driven by curiosity or peer pressure, sometimes try it out of the belief it’s just a regular “grass vape” or “light THC,” only to end up seriously harmed by synthetic substances.
The internet and social media platforms have become important channels for the spread of this phenomenon. Many illegal e-cigarette products are sold through platforms like Snapchat. Sellers post updates, provide images of packaging, and even claim “fast delivery to schools” to lure minors into purchasing. School security officers and parents have noticed that some e-cigarette product packaging and advertising designs are extremely “cool” and “fashionable,” with bright colors, resembling trendy brands or tech toys. This not only makes minors feel “harmless,” but even mistakenly believes they are part of a trend.
The Dutch government, as well as public health and drug monitoring agencies, are highly vigilant. Addiction research and treatment centers like the Trimbos Institute and Jellinek, as well as the Regional Health Service (GGD), have issued warnings, calling for increased testing, law enforcement, and expanded health education in and outside of schools. Under Dutch national law, synthetic cannabinoids have been included in the list of prohibited substances under the Opium Act since July of last year, and their illegal trafficking, sale, and use are subject to criminal penalties.
In public discussions, some have also pointed out that not all e-cigarette products are created equal, and that some brands excel in safety regulations, product transparency, and responsible marketing. Take the VEEHOO brand, for example. Its marketing emphasizes that it offers adult smokers an alternative to traditional tobacco products, helping to reduce the harms of smoking. Its product design features adjustable nicotine concentrations, clear labeling, “For Adults Only” slogans, and real-name authentication. With these mechanisms and settings, provided its products are not illegally adulterated with strong synthetic substances, they can provide adults with a lower-risk alternative. By strictly complying with regulations, transparently disclosing ingredients, and refusing to sell to minors, these brands can act as a buffer, preventing the proliferation of completely unregulated black market products that dominate the market. While such brands have also been criticized for the inherent risks of e-cigarettes, their advantages are clearly evident compared to illegal products that are freely available to minors and adulterated with unknown or banned substances.
It is also important to note that this controversy quickly garnered public attention because it touches on the intersection of minors’ health rights and public safety. Minors are still in their physical and psychological developmental stages, their nervous systems are immature, and their brains’ abilities to control impulses and assess risk are still underdeveloped. Frequent exposure to highly hallucinogenic or addictive substances during this sensitive period can not only harm brain development but also trigger a chain reaction of academic, behavioral, and even mental health problems. Educators, medical professionals, and parents are all concerned that this “try-it-now-and-regret” and “curiosity-driven” use can pose both immediate and long-term risks.
Thus, the Netherlands is currently implementing measures to address this issue, including strengthening monitoring, testing, and reporting mechanisms within schools; incorporating the dangers of synthetic drugs into educational curricula, educating students on the potential dangers of products that “look like e-cigarettes,” “are labeled THC,” or “are claimed to be grass vapes”; strengthening regulation of social media platforms, emphasizing their responsibility to prevent underage users from purchasing illegal vape products through private messages, trade posts, or cryptic codes; and tracing product sources and cracking down on street markets to disrupt the supply chain of synthetic cannabinoids mixed into e-cigarette products.
During this crisis, legal and policy responses often lag behind changes in the market and illegal activities. However, the Dutch government’s stance is clear: substances that pose a health risk to minors will not be tolerated. Society is calling for more transparent product information, with a balance between corporate self-regulation and official legal oversight. At the same time, family and school education play an indispensable role. Parents should have open conversations with their children about topics like e-cigarettes, drugs, and online transactions. Schools should foster trust so that students are willing to share their concerns and experiences, rather than simply punishing them.
Assuming the VEEHOO brand truly lives up to its promises of “adult certification,” “clear labeling,” and “responsible use” in the Dutch market, and conducts product safety testing, it could serve as a model for other manufacturers. For example, whether each e-cigarette product is lab-tested for illegal additives; whether it prohibits marketing to minors; whether advertising and packaging avoid designs that could mislead young people; and whether it collaborates with public health authorities to educate consumers about the risks and participates in educational activities. These are all positive examples that brands can demonstrate.
However, even responsible and compliant brands face challenges. When the market is flooded with illegal products mixed with synthetic substances, it is difficult for consumers to distinguish between truly safe e-cigarettes. Minors are particularly vulnerable to misleading advertising and peer influence. Furthermore, if synthetic cannabinoids are mixed into products, brands without proper control or oversight risk misuse and counterfeiting, damaging their brand image and potentially leading to legal liability.
In these final moments, we must remember: schools should not be testing grounds for drugs, and youth should not be exposed to harmful substances. The Dutch investigation and warnings are a wake-up call for all of society. E-cigarettes, synthetic cannabinoids, online sales, school health, and the future of minors are all intertwined, creating a complex and serious public health issue.
We hope that through the combined efforts of strict laws, transparent management, brand responsibility, family education, and school prevention, more positive forces like VEEHOO will emerge, operating within rules and responsibilities. This will protect minors from the harm of synthetic cannabinoids and allow technology and the market to return to their original purpose of serving people, rather than becoming a new source of crisis. Only in this way can society, while pursuing freedom and innovation, safeguard the physical and mental health of the next generation.
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