Recently marijuana (in its many forms) has been a popular subject. With more states considering the legalization of medicinal and recreational cannabis, there is no surprise that there is increased discussion. One such topic is hash oil (or cannabis oil for medicinal purposes) — more specifically, butane extracted hash oil (BHO).
The process of extracting hash oil involves passing liquid butane through a tube filled with cannabis plant matter. As the butane passes through the tube, crystalized resins in the cannabis become trapped in the liquid butane. The mixture is then heated leaving behind only the crystalized resin.
Butane gas is a highly volatile compound… therefore, this process can be extremely dangerous. Without proper ventilation, butane fumes can linger and ignite with a spark of static electricity.
The debate arises over who and where butane extracted hash oil should be obtained. In fact, 10 people have been treated for serious burns in Colorado so far this year — this is up from 11 total in 2013 and one in 2012.
Colorado officials are developing an ordinance that would ban people in a residential setting from producing BHO. In addition, the ordinance would also require those who wish to manufacture BHO to get a license from the county.
The debate over BHOs gained steam after deputies responded to a residence after a reported dog bite only to discover a BHO extraction operation. After the Telluride Fire Department Hazmat Team responded, they discovered there was a 100-canister case of butane (with 36 remaining) in the residence. Nevertheless, law enforcement officers were unable to charge anyone as there is currently no law on the books prohibiting the practice.
If the ordinance passes, the penalty for a violation would be a maximum fine of $1,000.
For further information about the dangers of producing BHO, and to see the (potentially) explosive results, watch this short news segment.
While typically thought of as THC-rich way to achieve a high, cannabis oil can be a valuable way to treat many diseases. Often vaporized, mixed into creams or used as a topical ointment, cannabis oil historically has been used to help treat:
- Ischemic, age-related inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
- Limiting neurological damage following a stroke or head trauma
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- HIV
As laws surrounding BHO extraction and marijuana continue to change start to pass, issues will certainly arise.
If you’ve been hurt or sustained property damage due to an operation like this, discuss your case with premises liability attorneys at the Babcock Law Firm today. In addition, you can also browse our blog and knowledge center to find other information to learn more about a wide variety of issues.