Pax Labs

In 2005, two former cigarette smokers, Adam Bowen and James Monsees, met while they were graduate students in product-design at Stanford University and developed an e-cigarette called Ploom.{{Cite news |last=Tolentino |first=Jia |author-link=Jia Tolentino |date=2018-05-07 |title=The Promise of Vaping and the Rise of Juul |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/05/14/the-promise-of-vaping-and-the-rise-of-juul |access-date=2018-09-01 |work=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} Monsees and Bowen founded the Ploom company to distribute their e-cigarette in 2007. Unable to find support from financial institutions, Ploom relied on private investors to launch their products.{{cite web |last=Huddleston, Jr. |first=Tom |date=June 10, 2015 |title=Investors are lining up for this e-cig, vaporization company |url=http://fortune.com/2015/06/10/pax-labs-funding/ |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=Fortune}}{{cite web |last=Crook |first=Jordan |date=June 10, 2015 |title=Pax Labs Heats Up With $46.7 Million In Series C Funding |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/10/pax-labs-heats-up-with-46-7-million-in-series-c-funding/ |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=TechCrunch}} In August 2016, Tyler Goldman joined Monsees and Bowen, becoming the CEO of Pax. The initial Ploom e-cigarette did not have commercial success; it experienced multiple technical errors that caused people to be burned, receive an electrical shock, and struggle to make the pod release the product.{{Cite episode|title=The Spark|series=Big Vape The Rise and Fall of Juul|network=Netflix|date=October 11, 2023|season=1|language=English}}

File:Weed vaporizer.jpg

In 2011, Japan Tobacco International invested $10 million into the company.{{cite web|url=https://tobaccotactics.org/article/newer-nicotine-and-tobacco-products-japan-tobacco-international/|title=Newer Nicotine and Tobacco Products: Japan Tobacco International|work=Tobacco Tactics from the University of Bath|date=February 16, 2023}} Ploom used this money to create the Pax, a vaporizer for loose leaf tobacco. While the product was invented to support smokers, cannabis users discovered that the Pax streamlined the cannabis experience.As Pax became associated with cannabis, JTI asked to part ways with Ploom. Ploom retained their rights to the Pax product, while Ploom changed their name to Pax Labs and bought JTI out of their share.{{cite web |last=Page |first=Barnaby |date=February 17, 2015 |title=Ploom and JTI agree to split up, divide heat-not-burn brands |url=https://ecigintelligence.com/ploom-and-jti-agree-to-split-up-divide-modeltwo-and-pax-brands/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=ECigIntelligence}}

Bowen left Pax in June 2017, Monsees left Pax in July 2017, and Goldman left Pax in December 2017. Bharat Vasan was CEO from February 2018 until September 2019.{{cite web |last=Crook |first=Colin |date=September 17, 2019 |title=Pax Labs' Bharat Vasan is out as CEO |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/17/pax-labs-bharat-vasan-is-out-as-ceo/ |work=TechCrunch}}

It markets the Pax vaporizers,{{cite web |last=Dawson |first=Freddie |date=July 31, 2015 |title=Pax Labs Looking At International Expansion |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/freddiedawson/2015/07/31/pax-labs-looking-at-international-expansion/ |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=Forbes}} starting with the Pax by Ploom. As Pax Labs, Inc., the company then introduced the Pax 2 and can be used with loose-leaf tobacco or cannabis.{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Melia |date=August 22, 2016 |title=The company behind the 'iPhone of vaporizers' is reinventing the e-cigarette |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/pax-labs-takes-on-tobacco-2016-8 |work=Business Insider}} In November 2016, the Pax 3 was released, featuring compatibility with both extracts and plant matter, new tools and accessories, and a complementary smartphone app. The same month, Pax also introduced an extract-based vaporizer called the Era, which operates by heating a concentrated cannabis liquid held in very small containers.{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Melia |date=October 13, 2016 |title=The 'Apple of vaping' made an e-cigarette for marijuana — here's what it's like |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/pax-era-vape-pen-review-2016-10 |work=Business Insider}}

Pax closed a $420 million equity round in April 2019, which valued the company at $1.7 billion.{{Cite web |last=Crook |first=Jordan |date=2019-04-22 |title=Confirmed: Pax Labs raises $420 million at a valuation of $1.7 billion |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/22/yep-you-read-that-right-420-million/ |access-date=2019-09-14 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} In June 2019, Pax announced it had signed agreements with four Canadian pot stocks, Aurora Cannabis, Aphria, OrganiGram Holdings and The Supreme Cannabis Company, to supply it with cannabis extracts, resins, and distillates for its PAX Era pen-and-pod vape system.{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2019 |title=Vape Giant PAX Labs Picked 4 Popular Pot Stocks as Its Supply Partners |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vape-giant-pax-labs-picked-112100992.html |access-date=2019-07-08 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}

As of 2023, Pax distributes products in the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.pax.com/discover/retailers|title=Find Authorized Retailers Near You|website=pax.com|access-date=December 16, 2023}}

{{main|Juul}}

File:Juul.jpg

In June 2015, the company introduced Juul, a type of e-cigarette that utilizes nicotine salts that exist in leaf-based tobacco, for its key ingredient.{{cite news |last=Stahr |first=Alyssa |date=June 5, 2015 |title=New Product: PAX LABS Introduces E-CIGARETTE JUUL |url=https://vapenews.com/vape-news/new-product-pax-labs-introduces-e-cigarette-juul/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715061437/https://vapenews.com/vape-news/new-product-pax-labs-introduces-e-cigarette-juul/ |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |access-date=March 8, 2018 |work=Vape News}} They were given a US patent for their nicotine salt preparation in 2015.{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Sean |date=December 22, 2015 |title=PAX secures patent for "Nicotine Salt E-Cigarette" |url=https://theslanted.com/2015/12/21876/pax-secures-patent-for-nicotine-salt-e-cigarette/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108104221/https://theslanted.com/2015/12/21876/pax-secures-patent-for-nicotine-salt-e-cigarette/ |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=May 18, 2017 |work=The Slanted}} The nicotine salts are said to create an experience more like smoking than other e-cigarettes on the market.{{cite web |last=Lawler |first=Ryan |date=April 20, 2015 |title=Vaporization Startup Pax Labs Introduces Juul, Its Next-Gen E-Cigarette |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/21/pax-juul/ |access-date=February 26, 2016 |work=TechCrunch}} The e-cigarette is shaped like a USB flash drive{{cite web |last=Souppouris |first=Aaron |date=June 3, 2015 |title=Juul is the e-cig that will finally stop me from smoking (I hope) |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/03/pax-labs-juul-e-cigarette/ |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=Engadget}} and recharges using a magnetic USB deck. Each cartridge (called a Juul pod) contains about the same amount of nicotine as one pack of cigarettes and delivers approximately 200 hits.{{cite web |last=Tiku |first=Nitasha |date=April 21, 2015 |title=Startup behind the Lambo of vaporizers just launched an intelligent e-cigarette |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/21/8458629/pax-labs-e-cigarette-juul |access-date=September 10, 2015 |work=The Verge}}

Juul attempts to deliver a nicotine peak in five minutes, similar to a traditional cigarette.{{cite web |last=Radding |first=Ben |title=Pax Juul: The iPhone of E-cigs? |url=http://www.mensfitness.com/life/gearandtech/pax-juul-iphone-e-cigs |access-date=May 17, 2017 |work=Men's Fitness}} Mango was among the five most popular flavors, but it is no longer available in the United States where now only menthol and tobacco flavors are sold.{{cite news |last=Teitell |first=Beth |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/11/15/where-teenagers-are-high-school-bathrooms-vaping/IJ6xYWWlOTKqsUGTTlw4UO/story.html |title='Juuling': The most widespread phenomenon you've never heard of |work=The Boston Globe |date=November 16, 2017}} A Juul starter kit sells for about $49.99.{{cite news |last=Wisniewski|first=Christie|url=http://www.recorder.com/Experts-talk-about-teen-vaping-16937687|title=Vaping, juuling latest threats to teen, pre-teen health|work=The Recorder|date=April 18, 2018}} Given the high nicotine concentrations in Juul, the nicotine-related health consequences of its use by young people could be more severe than those from their use of other e-cigarette products.{{cite journal|last=Galper Grossman|first=Sharon|title=Vape Gods and Judaism—E-cigarettes and Jewish Law|journal=Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal|volume=10|issue=3|year=2019|pages=e0019|issn=2076-9172|doi=10.5041/RMMJ.10372|pmc=6649778|pmid=31335312}}{{CC-notice|cc=by3|url=https://www.rmmj.org.il/userimages/951/1/PublishFiles/960Article.pdf|author(s)=Sharon Galper Grossman}}

In 2017 Juul Labs was spun out of Pax Labs as an independent company. Tyler Goldman, former CEO of Pax Labs, was named CEO of Juul after the spin-off.

Originally released in 2012, the PAX 1 was the first of the dry herb vaporizers to be sold by Ploom before the company became known as PAX Labs.

The second PAX vaporizer was released on March 10, 2015. This model of the PAX line featured a smaller design than the original device. {{cite web |title=Pax 2 vs Original Pax 1 Vaporizer Comparison |url=https://www.vaporizerwizard.com/comparisons/pax-2-vs-original-pax-1-vaporizer/ |website=Vaporizer Wizard |date=April 12, 2015 |access-date=31 August 2021}}

In November 2016, the third PAX device was released. This was the first model to allow the use of both dry herbs and cannabis concentrates (via use of a concentrate insert). The PAX 3 delivers the same temperature range as the PAX 2; from {{convert|360|to|420|°F}}. The PAX 3 offers improved temperature adjustability, down to the precise degree. The PAX 2 only offered four pre-determined temperature settings within this range. The PAX 3 features wireless connectivity to smartphones via the PAX application. {{cite web |title=PAX 3 |url=https://www.pax.com/products/pax-3 |website=PAX |access-date=31 August 2021}}{{cite web |title=PAX 2 vs PAX 3: Which One is Right for You? |url=https://learn.pax.com/pax-products/pax-3-vs-pax-2-which-one-is-right-for-you/ |website=PAX |access-date=31 August 2021}}

Released alongside the PAX 3 in late 2016, the PAX Era was the first cannabis vaporizer to use proprietary PAX Pod cartridges. Similar in design to PAX Labs' previous device, the Juul, the PAX Era uses food-grade polycarbonate cartridges{{cite web |title=PAX Era Review |url=https://vapingdaily.com/vaporizers/weed-pens/best-dab-wax-pen/pax-era-review/ |website=Vaping Daily |access-date=1 September 2021}} which are filled with pure cannabis oil. Like the PAX 3 vaporizer, the PAX Era may be wirelessly connected to smartphones via the PAX application.{{cite web |title=ERA |url=https://www.pax.com/products/pax-era |website=PAX |access-date=1 September 2021}}

PAX introduces its Era Pro vaporizer, an update to the original Era model. Compared to its predecessor, the Pro edition features several add-ons, including ExpertTemp technology, pod memory, haptic feedback, and a UL-certified battery. The PAX Era Pro works with pre-filled cannabis oil PAX pods and has a temperature range from {{convert|518|to|788|°F}}.

The PAX Mini was released in November of 2022, featuring a smaller design than the dry herb vaporizers previously made by PAX Labs. Updates include a larger LED, a soft matte finish, and rounded edges. The device is available in the colors poppy, silver, and onyx.{{cite web |title=Introducing the PAX Mini Vaporizer |url=https://www.pax.com/journal/introducing-pax-mini-vaporizer |website=PAX |access-date=28 October 2024}}

The PAX Plus was released in November of 2022, the larger oven capacity makes it better for sharing than the MINI, but session volumes are adjustable when utilizing the concentrate insert and half-pack oven lid.{{cite web |title=Introducing the PAX Plus Vaporizer |url=https://www.pax.com/journal/introducing-pax-plus-vaporizer |website=PAX |access-date=14 November 2024}} The PAX Plus comes set with four Experience Modes, where as the PAX 3 has four settings, each set at specific temperatures.{{cite web |title=PAX Plus vs Pax 3 |url=https://www.planetofthevapes.com/blogs/blog/pax-plus-vs-pax-3-vaporizer-comparison |website=Planet of the Vapes |access-date=14 November 2024}}

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• {{Official|https://www.pax.com/}}

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