What Is a Penjamin?

September 05, 2026 By Sy. O

A "penjamin" is a vape device built to look like an ordinary highlighter or marker pen. The name is a portmanteau of "pen" and, by most accounts, "Benjamin". The defining feature is concealment: it is engineered so that a casual observer sees stationery rather than a vaporiser.

How they work

Mechanically there is nothing unusual. A penjamin is a small battery inside a highlighter-shaped shell, typically accepting a standard 510-thread cartridge, often with a concealed airway and a hidden charging port. Some models genuinely write. The engineering effort goes into the disguise rather than into vaporisation quality, and that trade-off is the whole story of the category.

Why the format exists

Demand comes from wanting to consume without being observed — in shared housing, around family, or where use is prohibited. It is worth being straightforward about that, because it also explains where the problems come from.

How the hardware compares

Aspect	Penjamin	Standard 510 battery
Battery capacity	Small, constrained by the pen shape	Larger; holds voltage more consistently
Temperature control	Often fixed voltage	Commonly variable, with preheat
Airflow	Narrow concealed channel; clogs readily	Direct and short
Build quality	Highly variable; mostly unbranded	Established brands with warranties
Repairability	Effectively none	Cartridges swap freely

Fixed voltage is the practical weakness. Running hot scorches extract, which is why disguised devices have a reputation for a burnt taste that has nothing to do with the cartridge in them.

The considerations that matter more than hardware

In schools. Most disciplinary codes treat deliberately disguised devices more seriously than obvious ones, precisely because the concealment is intentional. These products are for adults only, and marketing that targets a school context is a genuine problem in this category.
In workplaces. A concealed device does not change a drug policy or a testing panel. If the product contains THC, a standard screening test can detect it regardless of what the device looked like. Our guide to hemp and drug testing explains what a screening panel actually measures.
Legally. Hemp-derived cannabinoid rules vary by state and are changing quickly. Concealment does not alter what is lawful to possess or where it is lawful to use it.
Household safety. A device that looks like a highlighter can be picked up by someone who does not know what it is. Anything containing an active cannabinoid should be stored where children and pets cannot reach it, and a disguise works against you here.

If you want discretion without a disguise

Edibles and gummies — no vapour, no aroma, precise per-serving dosing. 126 listed as of September 2026. Browse gummies.
Drinks — measured servings, nothing to inhale; 27 listed. Browse drinks.
Tinctures and oils — adjustable dosing, minimal odour; 17 listed. Browse oils.
Conventional vapes — better hardware, honest form factor; 31 listed. Browse vapes.

For parents and educators: how to recognise one

Because the entire design goal is to not look like a vape, the usual visual cues are absent. Things that distinguish a penjamin from an actual highlighter:

Weight. A battery makes it noticeably heavier than a pen of the same size.
A charging port, usually USB-C or micro-USB, hidden under a cap or at the base.
A mouthpiece where the nib should be, or a nib that does not write.
An indicator light, often visible only when the device is drawn on or clicked.
A faint sweet smell, since most extracts carry added terpenes.

This is not written to help anyone conceal anything — it is written because adults responsible for young people generally cannot tell these apart, and the products are not intended for minors.

Battery safety

Small lithium cells in cheap unbranded housings deserve ordinary caution: charge with the supplied cable rather than a high-output fast charger, do not leave one charging unattended overnight, and stop using any device that becomes hot, swells or smells of burning. Puncturing or crushing a lithium cell is a genuine fire risk. Dispose of dead devices through an electronics recycling point rather than household waste.

Whatever the format, check the same thing

A certificate of analysis from an independent laboratory, with a batch number matching the package. Across our catalogue as of September 2026 that covers 4,395 cannabinoid readings from 39 laboratories, and you can verify any of it through batch lookup.

Frequently asked questions

What does penjamin mean?

It is slang for a vape device disguised as a highlighter or marker pen. The name combines "pen" with "Benjamin".

Do penjamins take normal cartridges?

Most accept standard 510-thread cartridges, though the concealed housing limits which cartridge lengths physically fit.

Why does my penjamin taste burnt?

Usually fixed voltage running hotter than the extract tolerates, combined with a narrow airway. A variable-voltage battery on its lowest setting is the practical fix.

Are disguised vapes legal?

The device itself is generally not what is regulated — the contents and where you use them are. Hemp-derived cannabinoid rules vary by state and are changing, and concealment does not change what is lawful.

Is a penjamin safer than a normal vape?

No. Concealment has no bearing on what you inhale. Safety comes from the extract being laboratory-tested for potency, residual solvents, pesticides and heavy metals.

Browse lab-tested products

Chow420 lists products from independent sellers. Nothing here is medical advice, and cannabinoid figures describe the specific batch a laboratory tested rather than every unit ever made. Always read the certificate of analysis on the listing you are buying. Products containing THC are for adults only.