@propublica In an investigation by ProPublica and @denvergazette, reporters Evan Wyloge and Chris Osher bought vape products from dispensaries in Colorado and documented how some may have been made from chemically converted hemp instead of marijuana, a cheaper alternative that can carry potential health risks.
Although Colorado was one of the first states to ban intoxicating hemp, new reporting found it may still be showing up in marijuana dispensaries there. The ingestion of toxic chemicals found in hemp-derived vapes can cause liver cancer, lung cancer, damage to the reproductive system and damage to the immune system.
Watch Evan Wyloge break down how they tracked purchases and worked with an independent testing lab to find toxic chemical residues experts say are indicative of hemp-derived THC.
Reporter breaks down investigation findingsfrom @propublica
[01]
Overview
The reporter introduces a hidden issue with cannabis dispensary products, details the undercover purchasing and independent lab testing process, and reveals alarming findings about the use of highly toxic chemicals to create synthetic THC from hemp.
What if I told you some products for sale in cannabis dispensaries didn't actually come from the marijuana plant?
Visual hook · 5%
The reporter looks directly into the camera while holding up a packaged vape product, immediately establishing the subject matter and creating visual curiosity about the item.
[06]
Hook template
Steal this for your own video
What if I told you some [products people buy in a trusted place] didn't actually come from [what everyone assumes the source is]?
— What if I told you some bottles of olive oil sold in grocery stores didn't actually come from olives?
— What if I told you some vintage watches sold at high-end auctions didn't actually come from the original maker?
— What if I told you some supplements sold in health food stores didn't actually come from the plants on the label?
[07]
Hook and payoff
The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back
Hook
Pose a 'What if I told you' question that directly contradicts a widely held assumption about a common product or industry.
Payoff
Expose the specific, harmful consequence or toxic element involved, delivering the final punch of the investigation.
[08]
Narrative framework
The structural pattern this video runs on
Framework
The Investigative Exposé
Hook the viewer with a shocking industry secret, establish credibility, show the investigative process, and reveal a hidden danger.
1
The Credibility Stamp
Introduce the narrator's professional credentials to establish authority and trust.
2
The Groundwork Montage
Show the physical, real-world steps taken to investigate the claim, making the abstract concept tangible.
3
The Pivot
Reveal that the investigation is looking for something unexpected, shifting the focus from the obvious to the hidden.
4
The Insider Validation
Cite industry sources or documented cases to prove the issue is real and widespread.
Themes
Consumer safety
Hidden industry practices
Scientific testing
Investigative journalism
Techniques
B-roll cutaways
Text overlays
Motion graphics
On-location footage
Trends
Educational explainers
Consumer awareness
Behind-the-scenes investigations
Post caption
In an investigation by ProPublica and @denvergazette, reporters Evan Wyloge and Chris Osher bought vape products from dispensaries in Colorado and documented how some may have been made from chemically converted hemp instead of marijuana, a cheaper alternative that can carry potential health risks.
Although Colorado was one of the first states to ban intoxicating hemp, new reporting found it may still be showing up in marijuana dispensaries there. The ingestion of toxic chemicals found in hemp-derived vapes can cause liver cancer, lung cancer, damage to the reproductive system and damage to the immune system.
Watch Evan Wyloge break down how they tracked purchases and worked with an independent testing lab to find toxic chemical residues experts say are indicative of hemp-derived THC.
Text overlays
title · beginning
What if I told you
contextual · beginning
Evan Wyloge / PROPUBLICA, DENVER GAZETTE
contextual · beginning
Chris Osher / CO-REPORTER
contextual · beginning
Two regular customers...
contextual · middle
Watermelon sorbet.
informational · middle
Hemp
informational · end
HIGHLY TOXIC
informational · end
Hexane, heptane
Transcript
What if I told you some products for sale in cannabis dispensaries didn't actually come from the marijuana plant? I'm Evan Wylog. I'm a reporter with the Denver Gazette worse with ProPublica, and here's what I found out. My colleague and no reporter Chris Ocher and I went to dispensaries around Denver and bought better products best like a regular customer. Guatemalan sorbet. Then we sent them to independent labs for testing. Are you dropping more off? Yeah. Yeah. But we weren't testing for the levels of THC, the chemical that gets people high. Instead, what we were looking for are the chemical signatures that indicate that a product is made not from cannabis, but from hemp. What we heard from industry insiders was pretty alarming. There were already documented cases of companies creating a synthetic THC from hemp. The process to create this synthetic hemp derived THC involved the use of some highly toxic chemicals, hexane, heptane, and one of the worst.
Reporter breaks down investigation findings | Viral Hooks
