Pax
About PAX Labs
PAX Labs was founded with the goal of creating responsible, enjoyable, and personalized vaporizer experiences.
PAX’s loose leaf and extract vaporizer products are made with high quality materials and offer empowering experiences for those looking for a premium and discrete product. The company focuses on design and innovation, including best-in-class software and hardware, and tools that allow customers and patients alike to personalize each experience.
As an award-winning consumer technology brand based in California, PAX products represent the gold standard in product quality. Their vision is to be good stewards for a product and movement that enhances many people’s lives.
PAX Labs was formed in June of 2017, when it spun out of JUUL as a separate and independent entity. At that time, JUUL Labs changed its name from PAX Labs, Inc. to JUUL Labs, Inc. and Pax took the name PAX Labs, Inc.
This spin-off allowed PAX to focus on developing vaporization technologies for cannabis and other plant-based materials, and building their brand in the unique and complex cannabis market.
Headquartered in San Francisco, PAX’s team includes leaders across many industries. The company is made up of individuals with hardware and software backgrounds in consumer technology, healthcare, biotech, and of course, cannabis. Internally, the company values diversity, integrity, having an impact, and passion.
Medical Cannabis by Shoppers™ is proud to carry several PAX Labs device lines, including the PAX Era Vaporizer (which is specifically for the vaporization of liquid-cannabis/extract), the PAX 2 (which allows loose dried flower to be vaporized), and PAX 3 (which allows dried flower vaporization and vaporization of concentrate using a concentrate insert that comes in the ‘PAX 3 Complete Kit’. (The concentrate insert does not come in the ‘PAX 3 Kit’).
About the PAX Era ‘Pen-and-Pod’ System
PAX Labs sells empty PAX pods (the disposable component that contains cannabis extract) to many licensed producers and leading cannabis brands, including several carried by Medical Cannabis by Shoppers, such as Edison Cannabis Co, and 48North Trail Mix.
The PAX pods are filled by the licensed producer with their own extract and sold individually to consumers and patients to be used with the PAX Era Premium Vaporizer.
Together, the PAX ‘pen-and-pod’ system (which pairs the PAX Era vaporizer with the PAX Pod) provides superior control over many aspects of the user experience including temperature ranges and combines with dual wick, leak-resistant pods. Era is built with high-performance parts, a built-in rechargeable battery and is backed by a 1-year Limited Warranty.
PAX Era pods are meant to be disposed of once empty. Attempting to refill Era pods will compromise the pods safety and may cause leaking and potential damage to your device not covered under the warranty.
PAX Era Features & Functionality
The PAX Era system allows for consistent flavour and delivery. Wide temperature range and precise controls let patients and consumers personalize their experience and find the right setting for their needs.
The PAX Era is designed with child lock functionality, and high quality components including food grade plastics, gold plated electrical contacts, Kanthal heater and three cotton batting seals to absorb condensation.
For purchasers that value privacy and discretion, the PAX pod-and-pen system is pocket-friendly and lightweight. Its slim profile allows its owner to switch out interchangeable pods in seconds while providing the same power as a table-top vaporizer.
PAX Era Technology & Design
Unlike some concentrate devices that may apply the same power regardless of the coil temperature, PAX Era features PAX proprietary algorithm-controlled heating to ensure the first dose is identical to the last dose taken via the vaporizer. Temperature control is the ideal way to deliver consistent performance and flavour for a wide variety of material.
PAX Era will heat using 8W until the heater reaches the owner’s selected target temperature, at that point variable wattage is in play depending on the current temperature of the nichrome heater. Throughout each session, the wattage applied to the heater is automatically adjusted and regulated to ensure just the right power at all times.
PAX Era pods utilize a single 2mm silica wick, but unlike other cartridges which only use single ended wicks causing them to dry out quickly, both ends of the Era pod wick are submerged, allowing for improved wick saturation and performance across a full range of oil viscosities.
The Pod tank (in contact with the oil) is designed using food grade plastics. Other Era pod components include gold plated brass, the nichrome heater and cotton batting to absorb condensation.
The Era device features a 240mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Time to full charge is approximately 45 minutes via the micro USB to USB cable included in the device kit. Devices may require charging out of the box before using for the first time. Overall battery life is impacted by a variety of factors including temperature setting and length of individual sessions. PAX Labs estimate the battery life from a full charge to last up to 200 puffs.
PAX Era Maintenance & Mobile App
PAX Era requires minimal to no maintenance. The company recommends that it be kept in a protective case to ensure it stays clean and safe. It's fine to leave Era pods inserted in between sessions. Storing PAX Era for an extended amount of time (a month or longer) with a low battery may make it difficult to regain battery functionality when you're ready to use it again. As a consumable component of the device, PAX Era batteries are not covered under the 1 year limited warranty.
The PAX Era can be used without a cell phone. However, Android users can access additional features via the PAX Mobile App. The app can be paired with the device and used to unlock additional features like precise temperature control, LED brightness, colour themes, security lock, and session control. When modified, Era’s controlled temperature range settings will enhance vapor production and allow for personalized flavor profiles, while session control allows the consumer to adjust dose to the precise, consistent, preferred amount.
For iphone users, Apple banned cannabis-apps from its platform in December 2019 in a move that was widely criticized by advocates of medical cannabis patients, who benefited from the child-safety and precise dosing features that were afforded to patients via mobile app technology. However, PAX Labs has developed a web-based app that can be used on your computer for the full PAX Era experience.
How the PAX Era Works - Understanding the LEDs
There are no ON / OFF buttons for PAX Era. Simply picking up the device and inhaling wakes it up.
When not in active use the LEDs will remain dark. While charging, each LED petal glows to indicate 25% increments of battery charge. A pulsing white petal indicates current charge level. Solid white LEDs indicate charge level complete. Four solid LEDs mean the battery is 100% charged. When Era needs to be charged, all LEDs blink red 3 times before the device powers down. White LED's sweep downward when a pod is inserted.
In Temp Set Mode each LED indicates a temperature selection by the number and color of petals displayed. One green LED indicates the Low default temp setting. Two yellow LED's indicate the Med-Low default temp setting. Three orange LED's indicate the Med-High setting. Four red LED's indicate the High default temp setting.
To enter Temp Set Mode, first shake the device then remove the Era pod. Once the pod is removed the LED will start by displaying its current selection then the petals will slowly begin to cycle through the remaining temperature settings. Reinsert the pod when you see your desired setting indicated. Once you've selected your temperature, Era will confirm back by pulsing the selection's matching LED indication. For a video demonstration, click here.
Metered Session Feature
The PAX Era provides a very useful feature, allowing patients and customers to ‘meter a session’. This provides controlled, measured tracking of how much of a dose is taken. An individual session is measured through a series of consecutive petal indications.
To check your current session usage after a draw or two or more, give PAX Era a double tap with your finger. As you progress through your session more petals light up and change color, first, cycling through 4 green LEDs, then blue LEDs followed by red LEDs before returning to green.
If you'd like to reset your usage meter during any session, tap the device six consecutive times with your finger. Era will confirm the reset by displaying a counter-clockwise green swirl indication.
About the PAX 3
PAX 3 is a portable and discreet, powerful yet easy-to-use dried flower vaporizer.
The PAX’s conduction oven heats cannabis flower gently and evenly so there’s little waste, heating up in 22-seconds for on-demand vaping.
While PAX 3 can be used without a mobile phone, various modes (Standard, Stealth, Boost, Flavor and Efficiency) can be accessed and set through the PAX Mobile App.
The PAX 3 allows dried flower vaporization and vaporization of concentrate using a concentrate insert that comes in the ‘PAX 3 Complete Kit’. (The concentrate insert does not come in the ‘PAX 3 Kit’).
How to Use the PAX 3
The PAX 3 turns on with a quick press of the button located on the top of the device, in the center of the mouthpiece. It will vibrate slightly to indicate it’s on. The LED light will begin pulsing purple, to signal that it’s heating up. PAX 3 heats up in 15 seconds. When the device buzzes again and the LED lights turn green, the PAX 3 is ready to use.
PAX 3 Temperature Settings
Temperature settings are a great way to experiment with the flavor profiles of your material. To change the temperature push down on the mouthpiece for an extended press – about two seconds. Your device will enter “temp set mode” and the LED lights will light to reflect its current temperature. Cycle through your temp setting with short presses on the mouthpiece, with one green petal indicating the lowest temperature, and four red petals indicating the highest temperature.
PAX 3 Charging & Standby Mode
When the device is on, battery life can be checked by giving PAX 3 a gentle shake. White LED petals light up to indicate the battery level. Each petal represents a 25% charge. If the top left petal blinks red 3 times, it’s time to charge the device
When PAX 3 is set down for more than 30 seconds, the oven starts to slowly cool to preserve battery life. The LED will show a blue wave in a downwards motion. Once PAX 3 is picked up, it will immediately begin heating up to the desired temperature. If the PAX 3 doesn’t move or does not sense your lips for three minutes, it will turn off completely so that your battery life is preserved.
PAX 3 Colour Themes
Color themes change how your device indicates the three heating states you'll see during use and the startup animation. For reference, the default color theme your device uses out of the box uses the following animations for startup and the three heating states:
Startup - White Swirl
Heating - Fast Purple Up-Wave
Regulating - Green Plasma
Standby - Slow Blue Down-Wave
About PAX 2
The PAX 2 is a dried flower vaporizer that has won several design awards for its slim, sleek look, and its high quality construction.
PAX 2 is designed specifically for use with loose-leaf plant material (dried flower). By using liquid extracts, oils or concentrates in PAX 2 the device could be damaged, voiding the 2-year limited warranty.
With its easy one-button interface and LED lights (green means go!) PAX 2 is both easy-to-use and discrete. Its powerful oven includes four temperature settings that evenly heat and preserve the dried flower. Vapor is produced in less than a minute.
PAX 2 out of the box
Out of the box, the PAX 2 arrives with two silicone mouthpieces - a flat one, flush with the top of the device, and one raised option, a magnetic charging cradle with USB cord and a cleaning kit with isopropyl alcohol & pipe cleaners.
To charge the device, connect the cradle and cord provided to your computer or outlet adaptor, then place PAX 2 on the cradle to charge. Once PAX 2 is on the cradle, watch for the pulsing white petals. PAX 2 is fully charged when all four petals stop pulsing and turn solid.
How to use PAX 2
A short press in the center of the mouthpiece will turn the device on. PAX 2 heats in as little as 30-60 seconds. The LED petals will pulse purple while heating. Once the LED lights turn green, you’re good to go.
To adjust the temperature setting, hold down the mouthpiece button for an extended press while the device is on (approximately two seconds). You’ll know you’re in temperature set mode once the LED petals change from green to yellow, then orange and finally, red as you increase the temperature setting. Cycle through the settings by pressing in the center of the mouthpiece.
Exit temperature set mode by holding down on the mouthpiece button for an extended press, or by shaking the device.
If you set PAX 2 down for approximately 30 seconds, the oven starts to slowly cool to preserve battery life and save your material.
Once you pick PAX 2 up again, or take a draw, it automatically heats up - back to your selected temperature setting.
Lip Sensing Technology
If PAX 2 doesn’t sense your lips for 20 seconds the oven temperature will lower by a few degrees to preserve the internal temperatures of your material. This saves your material from heating while you’re not drawing from the device and ensures your next draw is always perfect.
Keep in mind that if PAX 2 doesn’t move or sense your lips for three minutes, it will turn off completely so that your battery life is preserved.
When your device is on, you can check the battery by giving PAX a gentle shake. The petals light up to indicate the battery level.
Products from Pax
Medical Cannabis by Shoppers is proud to carry a selection of PAX Labs devices, including:
Medical Cannabis by Shoppers carries PAX Era Vape Pods from the following Licensed Producers:
Edison Cannabis Co. PAX Era Vape Pods
48North Trail Mix PAX Era Vape Pods
Q & A with Medical Cannabis by Shoppers
1. Where are you located? Why do you work in this community?
Headquartered in the heart of San Francisco, PAX is made up of individuals with hardware and software backgrounds including consumer technology, healthcare, spirits, beauty, fashion, biotech, and of course, cannabis. We believe that cannabis consumers — like those in any other industry — deserve to have high quality, predictable experiences with products that are not only beautifully designed but allow for maximum control. That’s why we work day in and day out to lead our industry with innovation in cannabis vaporization technology.
2. Why is medical cannabis important to your organization?
PAX Labs was founded with the goal of creating responsible, enjoyable, and personalized vaporizer experiences. As an award-winning consumer technology brand, PAX products continue to represent the gold standard in product quality and we aim to be good stewards for a product and movement that enhances many people’s lives. This is more important than ever for patients, who require products they can trust, that put precision levels of control in their hands, whether that be temperature, dose or just having access to information about the products they’re consuming. That’s why we’re working to elevate cannabis technology and deliver best-in-class vaporizers to patients.
3. Are there any specific stories you can share about what inspired founders or leaders in your company to provide medical cannabis?
Many PAX employees have a personal story or connection that led them to work in the cannabis space. Our collective goal is to provide the safest and most transparent experience possible for our consumers while simultaneously educating users around cannabis. PAX’s mission is to establish cannabis as a force for good, and we strive to do this in everything we do, from our products to our software.
4. Which awards, certifications, recognitions has your company/brand/individuals in your organization received?
Recognition: Time Inc. selected PAX Era Pro as one of the 25 Best Products of CES 2020.
Certification: PAX Era Pro was the first cannabis vaporizer in the US market to receive UL 8139 certification. UL, a global leader in safety certification, recently developed a voluntary industry standard for vaporizers, UL 8139, that “evaluates the safety of the electrical, heating, battery and charging systems of these products.” Passing UL 8139 provides assurance against rupture, fire, electrolyte leakage, consistent and in range voltage, currents, and temperatures, and gives consumers complete confidence when choosing the PAX Era Pro. Additionally, all PAX devices are CE certified and include a UL-certified battery.
Award: PAX 3 was named Best Vaporizer at Lift & Co’s sixth annual Canadian Cannabis Awards.
Individual: PAX’s SVP, Jesse Silver, was recognized as one of the Future Tech Awards’ inaugural Future 50, celebrating the best people, products and services in technology.
Roundup: PAX 3 and PAX Era Pro were both listed on Esquire’s 12 Best Weed Vaporizers of 2020
Endorsement: PAX was thrilled to receive an endorsement from Esquire, The PAX 3 Vape Gives You a First-Class Ticket to the Elusive State of Relaxation
5. Which ‘firsts’ (ie. ‘first colour-coded CBD Softgels product….’) and other innovations is your company/brand proud of?
PAX 2 was the first-of-its-kind in the vaporizer category to provide an unprecedented level of user control and transparency.
PAX 3 continued the momentum as the first dual-use vaporizer for both cannabis flower and concentrates, forging the way as an industry leader in innovation.
Era Pro launched in 2020 as the smartest cannabis vaporizer on the market and also became the first cannabis vaporizer to receive UL certification
6. How does your organization show leadership in support for fairness and equality?
PAX is committed to establishing cannabis as a force for good, working to support equality and supporting those groups who have both been pioneers in the cannabis movement and conversely, disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.
We are focused — both within our own walls and across the industry — on business practices, talent acquisition efforts, social impact initiatives and partnerships to help drive fairness and equality for employees, customers and our cannabis community. Internally, we’ve undertaken initiatives to ensure fairness in our hiring practices, recruiting diverse candidates for all open roles, implementing anti-bias tools, and identifying opportunities to best drive increased diversity across our company. We’ve established an employee Diversity & Inclusion Program, implemented internal educational opportunities and a company wide listening tour, and created forums for conversation, to ensure we are not only the inclusive and anti-racist culture we are, but work to preserve that going forward.
Externally, we’re keenly focused on fairness and equality across those groups who have been integral to the cannabis movement, including the LGBTQ+ community, those who have been harmed by the War on Drugs and veterans, executing multiple initiatives to tell their stories, donate meaningful dollars to key organizations and leverage our platform and resources to raise awareness for their missions. Over the past 2 years, for example, we have supported — and continue to support — groups including the Marijuana Policy Project, the Last Prisoner Project, the GLBT Historical Society, the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Association, local Veterans’ Alley and more. Together, we can make the cannabis industry inclusive and equitable.
7. How does your organization show leadership in sustainable environmental practices?
PAX is constantly evaluating our business practices and working to be sustainable as possible. We’ve made a very conscious choice to not get into the disposables market due to the environmental waste — rather, our products are durable and meant to last, with a 10 year limited warranty for additional confidence. We’ve also taken steps to reduce our packaging footprint, use recyclable materials where possible and implement sustainability initiatives across our physical spaces to minimize our environmental impact. We continue to evaluate all business decisions through the sustainability lens, while balanced with consumer safety, to ensure we are a good citizen, doing our part.
8. What initiatives are you implementing (or have implemented) to ensure diversity in leadership roles? (race, gender, orientation and disability)
Diversity at every level of the company is a top priority to PAX, and our recruiting team is hyper-focused on bringing in diverse candidates for every role we hire. Hiring managers receive individual bias training, and we participate in a variety of job fairs and recruitment efforts that target underrepresented groups. All PAX employees are required to complete Harassment & Discrimination training upon hire, and we provide Unconscious Bias training to all employees in the organization on an annual basis. We are working to conduct in-depth diversity assessments across our organization and execute against opportunities for improvement.
9. How do you ensure that your products are safe and high quality for patients? Provide 2-3 specific examples of how you ensure safety/quality.
At PAX, health and safety is our top priority. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of safety and integrity in the industry and pride ourselves on our reputation of quality. Everything we do, from how we design our products to the materials we select to the partners with whom we work, is through the lens of how we can help ensure that consumers have a safer and more enjoyable cannabis experience.
We take a number of steps to ensure the safety of our products:
All device parts that come in contact with oil or loose leaf is FDA-compliant
All devices are manufactured in compliance with CE, FCC, IC, BT SIG, RoHS, CONEG and WEEE standards
All PAX products include a UL-certified battery
They also undergo extensive testing in the areas of temperature stress, thermal cycling, durability, battery cycling, environmental exposure, continuous operation and electromagnetic/radio frequency compatibility
We also take battery safety to the next level, with our Era Pro serving as the first UL-certificatied cannabis vaporizer on the market for battery safety. Additionally, all of our products use UL-certified batteries.
Unique locking technology stops PAX 3 from producing vapor to prevent unwanted use and added peace of mind
Through our PAX App (available on Android and Web), we give consumers unprecedented access to information about what’s in their cannabis, from cannabinoid profiles to terpenes to state-regulated test results and more so they can feel confident in their cannabis
PAX also has an Applied Research team, led by our PhD toxicologist, who conduct myriad research to ensure that our products meet strict safety standards, most recently including extensive extractable and leachables testing
In September 2019, PAX launched a Health Advisory Board comprised of highly respected experts across immunology, cannabis research and patient safety
10. What sets your products apart from competitive products and why should this matter to patients and consumers?
In keeping with our role as an innovator and industry leader, the PAX Era Pro became the first cannabis vaporizer in the US market to receive UL 8139 certification. UL, a global leader in safety certification, recently developed a voluntary industry standard for vaporizers, UL 8139, that “evaluates the safety of the electrical, heating, battery and charging systems of these products.” Passing UL 8139 provides assurance against rupture, fire, electrolyte leakage, consistent and in range voltage, currents, and temperatures, and gives consumers complete confidence when choosing the PAX Era Pro.
11. Which of your products have had the most interest from patients and healthcare providers and why?
Both our PAX 3 device for cannabis flower and concentrates and our Era platform for cannabis oil have both gained significant recognition within the medical space, due to the ability for patients to not only have ultimate control over things like temperature, dose and who uses their devices, but also for their unprecedented transparency. Our devices are available in most places where there are medical cannabis programs, and have recently been approved as the exclusive metered-dose inhalers available to patients in key markets.
12. Which specific products or processes are your most innovative or unique and why?
The PAX App delivers access to important product information and safety features to millions of consumers in 38 legal states and Canada, including medical patients and veterans. Through the PAX App, available on Android for Mobile and Desktop for iOS users, consumers can control and curate their cannabis experience with temperature control, lock-out features, PodID, Pod Feedback, and more. The PAX App caters to the needs of the user so they can always achieve the desired effect.
13. Tell us about any collaborations you have been (or currently are part of) with researchers, clinicians, scientists to help advance cannabis medical research.
Our products have been used in several clinical studies, most recently by the University of California, San Francisco. In addition to the studies conducted by our Applied Research team, both in our labs and with third party lab partners, we are currently working with our Health Advisory Board on new opportunities to leverage our devices in collaborations to advance cannabis research.
14. Tell us about any work you have done in the past (or are currently involved in) working directly with patients and patient communities.
PAX honors our veterans who have fought for this country and believe they deserve better access to cannabis. In 2018 we pledged $100K to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and teamed up with our brand partners LEVEL Blends and Gold Seal SF, two veteran owned companies, to create a limited-edition 1:1 CBD/THC “Pay it Forward” pod, with 100% of the proceeds donated to IAVA in support of our veterans. We have also hosted several grassroots volunteer opportunities for employees, including participating with Vet’s Alley, a local organization that provides veterans who are affected by homelessness an ability to express their stories through artwork. Members of the PAX team helped to complete the Cannabis Awareness mural, as well as donating devices to veterans.
15. How do you support (or plan on supporting) issues of affordability, and access within your own business practices?
We are constantly working to provide a premium experience to our customers at an affordable cost that prioritizes quality, transparency and safety.
16. What would you like Canadians to know about Canada’s leadership in medical cannabis?
We’re proud of the leadership that Canada has shown on cannabis as medicine and are looking forward to future leadership on issues of access, quality and affordability.