HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – June 21, 2018 – On June 18, 2018, The Hollister City Council enacted an urgency Ordinance to control the sale of butane in Hollister.
Butane can be used to chemically extract the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the cannabis plant. The result is a cannabis concentrate commonly referred to as Butane Honey Oil (BHO). This extraction method has become increasingly prevalent since the legalization of cannabis in California and other states.
Although BHO is being produced legally in commercial settings, people have been attempting the process in their own in residences and vehicles. The refined butane used in these illegal, homegrown labs is colorless, odorless, and heavier than oxygen. This process allows the butane to be mixed directly into the surrounding environment where it turns the clandestine lab into a bomb waiting for an ignition source. A spark from static electricity is enough to ignite the gas. One 300ml canister of butane will fill a 1452 square foot residence with enough gas to explode.
Since 2011, there have been over 140 injuries and 41 deaths as a result of BHO lab explosions and fires in California. The City of Hollister had one illegal BHO lab explosion in May of 2017 resulting in a person being airlifted to a trauma center for burn injuries. Two illegal BHO labs have been discovered in the city so far this year.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office produced a series of videos regarding the dangers of producing BHO. Their videos can be found at: http://rivcoda.org/opencms/mediacenter/ButaneHoneyOilVideos.html
The ordinance enacted in Hollister does not prohibit the sale or possession of butane, it merely restricts the amount a business may sell, requires them to track their butane sales, and restricts the amount of butane that may be possessed by an individual to a combined amount of 600ml at any one time.
The urgency ordinance was enacted to provide immediate protection to the residents until a permanent ordinance is approved.
Anyone with information about illegal making of BHO or sales of butane is asked to contact Officer Chris Wells at the Hollister Police Department at (831)-902-8733. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip hotline at 800-78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
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Prepared by: Officer Chris Wells
Approved by: Captain Carlos Reynoso
