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Cannabis vape pen app that rewards users with Bitcoin flagged as unethical
The app claims daily “check-ins” can increase points earned by up to 200%, according to its promotion, drawing concern from researchers about habit formation.
A California cannabis vape pen company, Gudtrip, is marketing products that it pairs with Bitcoin rewards, using the tagline “Every hit earns crypto,” according to DL News. Customers who connect the vape pen to an app can receive Bitcoin and points for using the device, with daily check-ins creating streaks that raise points.
DL News reports that health experts and anti-drug campaigners have raised alarm over the company’s approach. Researchers who study cannabis use said that encouraging daily consumption can be habit-forming and ethically concerning, with potential risk of escalating use.
According to DL News, Gudtrip describes itself as combining cannabis, Bitcoin, and artificial intelligence and says its product is not designed to encourage greater cannabis consumption. The article includes reactions from researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz and Erasmus University Rotterdam questioning the ethics and addiction potential of tying rewards to each use.
DL News also notes that Gudtrip’s promotion emphasizes gamified engagement through streaks, which it links to increased points earnings. The article presents the warnings alongside the company’s stated position that it is mindful of risks.
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