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Vape shop promotes industry responsibility; strives for ‘positive impact’
McCOOK, Neb. - A new business is making its mark at the southwest corner of B Street and Norris Avenue. Generation V, founded by Sarah Linden, recently opened its doors, offering a wide range of vaping products and alternatives. The idea for Generation V was born in 2013, inspired by Linden’s loss: her grandmother’s battle with lung cancer.
“Honestly, before I started my business, I didn’t even know what vaping was,” Linden shared. “My grandmother died of lung cancer, and it was a very new thing. Some friends of mine had opened a vape shop in California, and I thought I could do this and help people stop smoking.”
Since launching her first store in 2014, Linden has expanded Generation V to include 129 additional locations and eight Grateful Green locations. “I don’t do this by myself; I have a great team,” she emphasized, highlighting the importance of collaboration in her success.
As the vaping industry grows, it’s crucial to acknowledge its complexities. The FDA states that while e-cigarettes can be a lower-risk alternative for adult smokers, they are not without perils. Vape products contain Nicotine, which is highly addictive, and further research is needed to understand their long-term health outcomes.
Linden referenced a 2016 study by the Royal College
of Physicians in the United Kingdom called “Nicotine without smoke, Tobacco harm reduction.” The study determined the relative harm of vapor products compared to smoking and found that e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than smoking.
The federal Tobacco 21 (T21) law, enacted in December 2019, prohibits the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to anyone under the age of 21. To comply with this regulation, Generation V has designated areas within the store for specific age groups. All nicotine-containing products are located on one side, while products accessible to those aged 18 and older, such as CBD, Kratom, and Delta 8 THC, are on the other side.
Hemp became legal in the U.S. under the Farm Bill in 2018, removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and establishing a framework for its production. As of October 15, 2021, Delta 8 THC is also legal according to Nebraska state law, expanding the options available to customers.
Currently, the only CBD product approved by the Food and Drug Administration is a prescription oil called Epidiolex, which is used to treat two types of epilepsy. Aside from Epidiolex, state laws regarding the use of CBD vary. The staff at Generation V undergo extensive training. They can recommend various CBD products believed to assist with issues like inflammation and pain management. However, these claims have yet to be approved by the FDA.
Kenny Allen, Head of Retail at Generation V, shared his personal experience with CBD: “I have terrible chronic pain in my sciatic nerve and significant knee inflammation. I take CBD daily because it helps manage inflammation, especially when setting up the store. There are nights when it feels like sitting on ice.
Thankfully, the CBD alleviates some of that discomfort. It doesn’t eliminate the pain but makes it much more manageable.”
Delta-8 and Kratom products do provide an intoxicating effect. Delta-8 is similar to marijuana but is primarily extracted from CBD derived from hemp, which is legal to farm across the U.S. In Nebraska, there are no age restrictions for purchasing or the use of hemp-derived products; however, retailers like Generation V choose not to sell these products to minors under the age of 18.
Allen also discussed the challenges of navigating varying legalization laws across states: “We try to work closely with the states and stay updated on legalization laws. Unfortunately, cannabis regulations vary widely, making it tough to maintain a consistent policy. We are committed to not selling certain products to anyone under 18. We will absolutely not sell tobacco products to anyone under 21.”
Allen added that to avoid marketing to children, “Our marketing department works closely with us to ensure we don’t carry brands with cartoonish or child-appealing packaging. We prefer a more subdued look for our products, reflecting our commitment to industry responsibility.”
Generation V opened on September 28 and aims to provide a safe and informative environment for both seasoned vapers and newcomers seeking alternatives to traditional smoking. With a focus on quality, education, and responsible practices, this new addition to McCook hopes to impact the community positively.