CS 311193-B

E-CIGARETTE, OR VAPING, 

PRODUCTS VISUAL DICTIONARY
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Disclaimer

● This product is intended for educational purposes only for public 

health officials and healthcare providers.

● The devices and brands presented in this pamphlet are intended to 

highlight the different e-cigarette, or vaping, product generations and 

substances used in these devices. The use of brand names does not 

constitute product endorsement. 

● Contents of this pamphlet should not be modified.

● Note for Accessibility: Explanation of graphics on pages 13, 15, and 17 

can be found in Appendix on page 25.
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Vaping Devices

E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products 

E-cigarette, or vaping, products can be used to deliver nicotine, cannabis (THC, CBD), 

flavorings, chemicals, and other substances. 

They are known by many different names and come in many shapes, sizes and device 

types. Devices may be referred to as

● E-cigs

● Vapes

● Vape pens, dab pens, and dab rigs

● Tanks

● Mods

● Pod-Mods

● Electronic nicotine delivery systems 

(ENDS)

Use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products is sometimes referred to as “vaping” or “juuling.” 

E-cigarette, or vaping, products used for dabbing are sometimes called “dab” pens. 
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Contents

E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products Visual Dictionary

Disclaimer................................................................................................. 2

Devices ............................................................................................................ 5

The Evolution of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products............................................. 6

Anatomy of an E-Cigarette........................................................................... 7

First Generation ......................................................................................... 8

Disposable E-cigarettes ........................................................................... 8

Second Generation ..................................................................................... 9

E-Cigarettes with Prefilled or Refillable Cartridge ......................................... 9

Third Generation ...................................................................................... 10

Tanks or Mods .................................................................................... 10

Sub-Ohm Tank .................................................................................... 11

Fourth Generation ..................................................................................... 12

Pod Mods ........................................................................................... 12

Vaporizers ............................................................................................... 14

Classifying E-Cigarettes, or Vaping, Products .................................................. 15

Substances ...................................................................................................... 16

E-Liquid .................................................................................................. 17

Marijuana................................................................................................. 18

Dabbing .................................................................................................. 19

CBD ...................................................................................................... 20

Synthetic Cannabinoids .............................................................................. 21

Hacking or Modifying ....................................................................................... 22

Hacking Pods or Cartridges........................................................................ 23

Hacking a Mod System .............................................................................. 24

Dripping............................................................................................. 24

Appendix ....................................................................................................... 25
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Devices
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The Evolution of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

1

st 

GENERATION 

Disposable 

e-cigarettes

2nd 

GENERATION 

E-cigarettes 

with prefilled 

or refillable 

cartridge

3rd 

GENERATION 

Tanks or Mods 

(refillable)

4th 

GENERATION 

Pod Mods 

(prefilled or 

refillable)
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Anatomy of an E-Cigarette

THE E-CIGARETTE

THE CARTRIDGE

This holds the e-liquid 

(substance). It comes 

prefilled or refillable. It is 

usually combined with an 

atomizer as one unit.

THE ATOMIZER

It is a coil that is a heating 

element which helps 

convert e-liquid to tiny 

airborne droplets (aerosol).

THE SENSORS

E-cigarettes without a 

power button will turn 

on when the user inhales 

through it. E-cigarettes 

with or without a power 

button require sensors to 

turn on.

THE BATTERY

It is a rechargeable lithium 

ion battery, which provides 

enough current to heat the 

atomizer to 400 degrees 

Fahrenheitt in seconds.

Mod Box 

It is a 3rd generation 

device that is 

modifiable (“Mod”) 

allowing users to 

change the voltage, 

coils and wicks.

Sub-Ohm Tank 

It is made of plastic 

or metal with 

transparent casing 

so liquid levels can 

be seen. It contains a 

lower resistance coil 

that allows the liquid 

to heat up faster.

Cartridge 

It is made of plastic 

or metal with 

transparent casing 

so liquid levels can 

be seen. It contains 

an atomizer that 

heats up the e-liquid.

E-Liquid 

E-liquid is contained 

in a pod, cartridge 

or tank. It is made 

up of a mixture of 

substances that 

includes nicotine, 

cannabis, and/or 

flavoring.
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First Generation

Disposable E-cigarettes 

● A type of e-cigarette designed to be used one 

time, only.

● These devices are not rechargeable or refillable. 

● They are discarded when it runs out of charge or 

e-liquid. 

● They are designed to mimic the look and feel of 

combustible cigarettes. These are sometimes 

referred to as “cigalikes”
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Second Generation

E-Cigarettes with Prefilled or 

Refillable Cartridge 

● A type of rechargeable e-cigarette, or vaping, product 

designed to be used multiple times. 

● E-liquid comes in prefilled or refillable cartridges. Substances may include nicotine, 

cannabis (THC, CBD), flavoring, solvents, or other substances.

● The cartridge is attached to a battery pen—which contains the battery.

● Cartridge and battery pen are typically purchased separately. They can be bought 

in starter packs.

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Third Generation

Tanks or Mods 

● A type of rechargeable e-cigarette, or vaping, 

product designed to be used multiple times. 

● They are modifiable devices (“mods”), allowing 

users to customize the substances in the device.
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Third Generation

Sub-Ohm Tank 

● Sub-ohm tank contains low resistance coils. It is 

designed to create a large cloud (aerosol) with a 

stronger delivery or hit of nicotine or other substances.

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12

Fourth Generation

Pod Mods 

● Pod Mod is an e-cigarette, or vaping, product with a prefilled or refillable 

‘‘pod’’ or pod cartridge with a modifiable (mod) system (“Pod-Mods”)

● These are other examples of fourth generation devices. Pod Mods come 

in many shapes, sizes, and colors. 

● Common Pod Mod brands include JUUL® and Suorin ®

● There are compatible prefilled pod cartridges that contain nicotine, THC, 

or CBD with or without flavoring. 

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13

Fourth Generation

For accessibility, explanation of graphic can be found in Appendix, page 25.

Pod Mods 

● Pod Mods typically use nicotine salts rather than the freebase nicotine 

used in most other e-cigarette, or vaping, products. 

● Nicotine salts, which have a lower pH than free base nicotine, allow 

particularly high levels of nicotine to be inhaled more easily and with less 

irritation to the throat than freebase nicotine.

13

3 5 8 10 12 14

acidic

Nicotine 

Salts

alkaline

Freebase 

Nicotine

neutral

0 1 2 4 6 7 9 11 13
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Vaporizers

Vaporizers 

● An inhalation device used to release the active substances of organic or 

inorganic materials in the form of an aerosol through the application of 

non-combusting heat

● Vaporizers can be used to aerosolize dry herbs, wax, and oil. For 

example, vaporizers are used to heat marijuana to a point where its 

active ingredients (e.g., THC) are released in an aerosol and inhaled.

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15

Classifying E-Cigarettes, or Vaping, Products

How to Classify the User’s E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product

For an accessible explanation of schematic below on how to classify e-cigarettes, go to Appendix, page 25. 

Important notes:

1. E-liquids can contain nicotine, THC, CBD, flavors, or other solvents. 

2. Marijuana herb, hash oil, dab wax are used with vaporizers. 

QUESTION 1:

Is the e-liquid 

contained in 

a disposable 

e-cigarette, 

cartridge, tank, 

or pod?

Disposable 

e-cigarette

(no cartridge, 

tank or pod)

1

st 

GENERATION

(Cigalike)

Cartridge 

(Prefilled 

or 

refillable)

QUESTION 2:

Is the cartridge 

also called 

a pod cartridge 

or contains 

nicotine salts?

NO 2nd 

GENERATION

(Battery Pen)

Tank/

Sub-Ohm 

(Refillable)

3rd 

GENERATION

(Modifiable—allows 

variable voltage/watts)

Pod 

(Prefilled or 

refillable)

4th 

GENERATION

(Pod Mod)

Marijuana 

herb, oil, 

dab wax

Vaporizer,

Dab rig,

Dab pen

YES

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Substances

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E-Liquid

E-Liquid 

● E-liquid is the liquid that is converted into an aerosol by an e-cigarette, or 

vaping, product. It is typically a mixture of water, food grade flavoring, a choice 

of nicotine levels, cannabis (THC, CBD), propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable 

glycerin (VG).

● PG and VG are humectants used in e-liquid to produce aerosols that simulate 

combustible tobacco cigarette smoke. 

● The ratio of PG and VG in the e-liquid can change based on whether flavor 

(higher levels of PG) or plume (higher levels of VG) is desired.

For accessibility, explanation of regular e-liquid vs. cannabis e-liquid graphic below can be found in Appendix, page 25.

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regular e-liquid vs. cannabis e-liquid

Tetrahydrocannabinol 

(THC)

Cannabidiol 

(CBD)

Nicotine Flavors

Propylene Glycol 

(PG)

Vegetable Glycerine 

(VG)
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Marijuana

Marijuana 

● Also called weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane, and a vast number 

of other slang terms—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried flowers of 

Cannabis sativa. 

● THC is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana. 

● THC and terpenes (aromatic oils) are extracted from marijuana as THC 

concentrates, hash oil, and wax. These derived products, crumble, shatter, wax, 

and dry sift/kief, have a high dosage of THC. 

● Marijuana contains much more THC than hemp, while hemp has more 

cannabidiol (CBD).

Marijuana Bud

Wax

Crumble

Dry Sift/Kief

Shatter
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Dabbing

Dabbing 

● Dabbing or dibbing is a process that allows the user to inhale a high 

concentration of THC by aerosolizing of a concentrate that has been placed on 

a hot surface (the “nail”).

● Dabbing is also a term used when using THC concentrates and wax in a dab 

pen or a vaporizer.

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Dab Rig Concentrate Torch
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CBD

CBD 

● CBD stands for cannabidiol and it is derived from cannabis, marijuana and hemp.

● CBD is the main ingredient in hemp and the second main ingredient in marijuana 

after THC.

● CBD is not a psychoactive substance.
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Synthetic Cannabinoids

Synthetic Cannabinoids 

● Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of synthetic molecules that bind to 

cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body (the same receptors to which THC 

and CBD attach). 

● They are “designer drugs” that are usually smoked and have been marketed as 

herbal incense, or “herbal smoking blends”. 

● They are sold under common names like K2, Spice, Black Mamba, Kronic and 

Synthetic Marijuana.
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Hacking or Modifying
Hacking Pods or Cartridges

Hacking or Modifying 

Devices or Liquid 

Cartridges 

● “Hacking” may include any 

post-market modifications 

to the device that are 

beyond the intended use by 

the manufacturer. 

● For example, users may 

“hack” closed systems (such 

as pod/cartridge devices) to 

refill these cartridges with 

other substances. 

● This is different than “mod” 

devices, which are intended 

to be customized by the user.

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Hacking a Mod System

Dripping 

● Users hack the mod system 

in order to create a bigger hit 

(amount) of the substance 

used. This is done by 

increasing the temperature 

used to heat the e-liquid. 

Dripping is when users 

expose the heating coils to 

“drip” liquids directly on the 

heating device and get a 

more flavorful and thicker 

cloud of aerosol. 

● Dripping is dangerous 

because it can expose 

users to higher levels of 

the substance (nicotine, 

cannabis) and to harmful 

toxins, such as formaldehyde 

and acetaldehyde, which are 

known carcinogens.
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Appendix

Explanation of Graphics for Accessibility

Page 13—Graphic acompanying Pod Mods: This is an illustration of a colorful pH range from pH 0 

to 14. pH 0 to 6 is indicated as acidic. pH 7 is indicated as neutral. pH 8 to14 is indicated as 

alkaline. Below is a regular cigarette pack with freebase nicotine that has a high pH which 

is alkaline. Fourth generation e-cigarette, vaping, products contain nicotine salts that has a 

low pH which is acidic. (page 13)

Page 15—How to Classify the User’s E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product: This is a schematic to help 

classify e-cigarette, or vaping, products based on the substance and device the e-liquid 

is contained in. Classifying e-cigarettes, or vaping, products correctly will aid public 

health officials and healthcare providers in reporting devices used by users experiencing 

symptoms from these products.

Important notes:

3. E-liquids can contain nicotine, THC, CBD, flavors, or other solvents. 

4. Marijuana herb, hash oil, dab wax are used with vaporizers.

First question to ask, is the e-liquid contained in a disposable e-cigarette, cartridge, 

tank or pod? 

● If it is a disposable e-cigarette then the device is classified as a first generation device. 

● If it is a cartridge then a second question is asked. Is the cartridge also called a pod 

cartridge or contains nicotine salts? If the answer is no, then it is a second generation 

device. If the answer is yes then it is a fourth generation device. 

● If it is a tank or a sub-ohm tank then the device is classified as a third generation device. 

● If it is a pod then the device is classified as a fourth generation device. 

● If the user is using marijuana herb, oil, or dab wax then the device is either a vaporizer, 

dab rig or dab pen. (page 15)

Page 17—Illustrative example of differences between regular e-liquid and cannabis e-liquid. Regular 

e-liquid contains nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavors. Cannabis 

e-liquid contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). (page 17)

CS 311193-B