For years, cannabis vaping has swung between convenience and waste. Consumers chased disposable ease, brands juggled endless SKUs, and the planet absorbed the cost as lithium-ion batteries piled up in landfills. Now a new shift is underway: the move toward open, interoperable, and reusable vape systems built to last rather than expire.
The push is environmental, economic, and cultural. Disposables made vaping simple, yet also expensive, inconsistent, and unsustainable. Brands want to cut hardware costs, simplify supply chains, and deliver better user experience without the one-and-done waste. The next wave treats cannabis vaping less like gadgetry and more like infrastructure.
One of the most talked-about examples is Singular, a modular vape system developed by Seattle-based ACTIVE, which recently debuted in partnership with Verano and Trulieve. The system centers on a reusable battery and an open platform that works with multiple pod “engines” (ceramic, postless, and stainless steel) each optimized for different extract types.
“Brands want efficiency and differentiation. Consumers want to spend less but without sacrificing performance,” says Michael Brosgart, president of ACTIVE. “Singular brings these together in one open platform that works for the entire industry.”
From disposable habits to open ecosystems
The timing could not be better. According to industry watchers, All-in-One vapes now account for a large share of U.S. vape sales, a dramatic shift from only a few years ago. Growth has brought frustration, though. Users toss batteries with every pod, brands face compatibility headaches, and retailers navigate mounting waste regulations.
In an early review, Beard Bros Pharms called Singular the “USB-C moment” for cannabis vapes, arguing that an open, interoperable platform can reduce confusion while improving performance.
“With Singular, ACTIVE now offers one device that can power pods uniquely optimized to deliver the best flavor and effects across all forms of cannabis extracts,” the review noted. “It’s not just another pod system, but an adaptable and even cross-compatible platform that consolidates various extract delivery methods into one rechargeable and reusable system.”
In the same piece, Bill Levers of Beard Bros Pharms summed up the broader trend: “You see it across all sorts of mainstream industries, where the brands and companies that can adapt and evolve the fastest are the ones that thrive. Well, cannabis evolves faster than all of them, and the vaping sector is moving at light speed now that Singular has hit the scene.”
Open systems, sustainable future
Closed pod systems that lock users into a single ecosystem once dominated. They promised control and consistency, yet left brands dependent on proprietary tech and consumers stuck with drawers of incompatible hardware. The open-platform approach flips the equation.
ACTIVE’s reusable model aims to cut costs for everyone involved. Consumers buy the power unit once and replace only the pods. The company says capacities can range from 0.5 mL to 5.0 mL, and the platform can even support traditional 510 cartridges through an adapter. That flexibility lets brands transition gradually instead of overhauling production overnight.
“Our view is that consumers tend to favor open systems, which, through the test of time, always win,” Brosgart added. “It’s one of the reasons why 510 was so successful.”
The design also targets a major pain point: battery waste. Thousands of lithium cells end up in the trash every week from spent disposables. Singular’s modular approach offers a cleaner path forward, and ACTIVE is backing it with broader advocacy through VapeSAFER, a coalition focused on sensible regulation and sustainability.
Built to evolve
Hardware innovation in cannabis has often been reactive, chasing flavor trends or surface-level design. Singular aims to offer a scalable backbone rather than a single gadget. Pods can be tuned for distillate, live resin, rosin, or diamonds, while add-on options such as NFC pairing, voltage control, preheat functions, and haptic feedback point to a future of smarter devices.
ACTIVE says the system is launching with Verano and Trulieve and will be available in more than 1,000 dispensaries as rollout continues into 2026. The company already supplies hundreds of brands worldwide and manufactures across facilities that meet international quality standards.
Beyond a single company or product, the shift raises a larger question about where cannabis tech is heading. As sustainability becomes a selling point, hardware that blends interoperability with brand identity could redefine how consumers connect to products. If the industry continues on this path, the disposable era gives way to systems that are modular, collaborative, and built to last.
