Gudtrip's Cannabis Vape Pen Rewards Users With Bitcoin Per Puff
A California cannabis startup has created a vape pen that rewards users with Bitcoin for each puff, combining drug consumption with cryptocurrency incentives. Four addiction researchers warn the gamification poses serious health risks.
Key Takeaway
Crypto incentives for drug use cross an ethical line four researchers agree should never exist.
California-based Gudtrip sells a cannabis vape pen that gives users Bitcoin for every puff they take.
The company markets itself as a "user-powered network that combines cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence." Its website promises "Every hit earns crypto" and offers 200% point boosts for four-day check-in streaks. Gudtrip's parent company Puffpaw raised ₱370.16 million ($6 million) in venture funding in 2024 after selling over 140,000 products.
Four addiction researchers say the device is dangerous. University of Colorado Anschutz Associate Professor Joshua Gowin said gamifying cannabis use sounds like habit-formation is the goal. Erasmus University Rotterdam's Janna Cousijn, who heads the Neuroscience of Addiction Lab, said linking a reward to a puff reinforces the behavior and increases the chance of escalating use. She called it potentially very dangerous and unethical.
University of Texas at Dallas researcher Francesca Filbey, who studies long-term cannabis effects, said she would be concerned about any product designed to incentivize frequent use. Addiction and Mental Health Group Director Tom Freeman said providing incentives for people who consume more will impair their ability to make choices in the best interests of their health.
A Gudtrip spokesperson said the company is deeply mindful of cannabis product risks and claims the product is not designed to encourage greater consumption. The spokesperson said points are used solely for record-keeping in the app and cannot be redeemed for cash, cryptocurrency, products, or anything of monetary value. The company argues that adults in legal markets who have visibility into their own consumption are better positioned to avoid problematic use.
Heavy and daily cannabis use has been linked to increased risk of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, and psychosis, along with memory and attention impairments. Occasional cannabis use was found less harmful than seven other drugs including tobacco and alcohol in peer-reviewed studies, according to research published in 2024.
This article was written based on reporting from Dlnews.
