Garnet Vape opened recently in Pacific Beach to serve the needs of those seeking an alternative to cigarette smoking.
Co-owners Matt Smith and Walden Keys opened Garnet Vape a month ago at 1419 Garnet Ave. They want word to spread they stock only the highest-quality and most-popular materials needed for e-cigs and vaping.
“What we have is juice and liquids in all different flavors as an alternative to smoking cigarettes,” Smith said. “It still has nicotine in it, but you don’t have the rough tobacco on your lungs. The flavored smoke gets a bigger cloud, which some people like, and it doesn’t have the cigarette smell.”
An electronic or e-cigarette is a handheld electronic device that vaporizes a flavored liquid. The user inhales the vapor in a process called vaping. The liquid in an e-cig is usually made of nicotine, propylene Glycol, glycerine and flavorings. Some e-liquids do not contain nicotine.
Vaping may be less harmful than smoking regular cigarettes, but it’s not totally harmless. And nicotine is addictive.
The modern e-cigarette was invented in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist. As of 2015, most e-cigarettes were made in China. Since they were first sold in 2004, global use of e-cigarettes has risen exponentially.
Marcello Castillo at Garnet Vape said he still smokes cigarettes, though a lot less, since he started vaping. He added it’s more discreet than tobacco smoking.
“If I’m around my kids or certain areas – I don’t want to light a cigarette,” he said. “Vaping has supplemented, substituted for it (tobacco). I smoke cigarettes a lot less. I vape instead of (using) cigarettes.”
Smith talked about what makes Garnet Vape unique.
“Nobody has the different brands of juice that we have,” he said adding, “Before this I had another vape shop. It was a good experience and I know which brands are best.”
Also unique to Garnet Vape is that it carries CBD oils and other hemp materials, which are non-psychoactive therapeutic products for medicinal marijuana users to treat a variety of ailments including cancer, epilepsy and arthritis.
Smith got involved with vape shops as an investment.
“I saw the potential,” he noted.
Smith added vaping is legal for ages 21 and up. He stressed his vape shop is a good neighbor.
“We’re a legitimate business with a good presence in the community,” he said.
Flavored vape liquids are sold in 60-milliliter and 30-milliliter bottles for $30, and $20, respectively. Smith noted those quantities typically last vape users two or more weeks.
Garnet Vape is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: 1419 Garnet Ave. Products/services: E-cig and vape product retail, CBD medical marijuana oils and materials Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Info: 858-412-5500, yelp.com/biz/garnet-vape-san-diego