Puff, puff, predict – how nicotine vapes are shaping cannabis tech

Ispire Technology uses nicotine vape trends to forecast the future of cannabis vape innovation, including smart features like screens and battery meters. The company’s data-driven strategy and Malaysia-based manufacturing put it at the forefront of cannabis vaporizer development.

Vapes are everywhere. From corner shops, to railway platforms, to just outside the classroom – and they’re known for doing more harm than good.

But did you know that they could become known as “the crystal ball” for cannabis innovation?

Tracking vape tech trends

Californian vape company Ispire designs vapes that use nicotine, cannabis, and hemp oils.

As Vice President of Sales, John Monds, explained in Malaysia last week, “We do operate in the nicotine space and the hemp space. So we see the trends start in nicotine, then move their way to the hemp space, and eventually to the cannabis space.”

The company, therefore, is monitoring emerging device formats and tech before they actually hit the cannabis market.

Ispire’s forecast is that vapes will evolve with features that are similar to smartphones. Visible battery levels and even gaming features could become common in the future.

The empathy is high from CEO Monds:

“Think about having your iPhone and you didn’t have a battery meter on there – wouldn’t that drive you crazy, with no idea when it’s gonna run out?”

Manufacturing in Malaysia – a strategic move

To avoid tariff hurdles and supply chain disruptions, Ispire shifted production from China to Malaysia.

Monds said, “When you look at things like tariffs... that becomes a huge obstacle. So we looked into other factories and opened ground in Malaysia.”

Though cannabis remains illegal in Malaysia, the company’s Malaysian factory mainly produces semi-finished vape hardware for export, not containing cannabis or nicotine liquids.

In May 2025, Ispire became the first company licensed by Malaysia to produce nicotine vaping products under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024.

Diversifying to beat volatility

Monds highlighted Ispire’s diversified mix across nicotine, hemp, and cannabis as a shield against cannabis market volatility.

“Cannabis money gets dried up very quickly. I was with a company, HERBL, and they ended up going under because of that,” he said.

Nicotine vaping offers “a very predictable” revenue stream, while cannabis is “a little more challenging.”

He concluded, “We’re able to do a good enough job that we could be predictable on what our revenue’s going to be, and it’s a safer space as far as investments go.”