By Mary O’KEEFE

On Monday at about 8 p.m. the Glendale Police Dept. responded to the 2200 block of Cañada Boulevard in Glendale concerning a “residential explosion/structure fire.”

When officers and firefighters arrived they discovered a fire in the backyard of the residence. After an investigation they discovered the fire apparently began due to an illegal honey oil lab.

“A sophisticated marijuana grow and a large amount of the finish product was also discovered at the scene,” according to GPD.

Two Glendale men, both 21 years old, were detained at the scene and are still under investigation. One of the men was transported to the hospital due to burn injuries. The other was arrested for the manufacturing of a controlled substance.

Honey oil is created when, with the use of butane, THC is extracted from marijuana. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the mind-altering ingredient found in cannabis plants.

Butane is something that is commonly used in both mass production and smaller, individual production of THC.  There have been explosions across the country that can be attributed to this dangerous practice of extracting THC.

The lawful use of butane is to refill lighters or other equipment like food prep torches; however, it is the illegal use that has been getting the most recent attention.

People will take marijuana plants and place them into a cylinder, then empty the butane into the marijuana. They continue with a process, which at one point has the butane transforming from a gas to a liquid. The butane will eventually turn back to gas but to speed things up people will heat it often using a warming plate.

“Butane is heavier than air and it sinks to the bottom,” said Lt. Tigran Topadzhikyan, deputy director with GPD.

But in an enclosed area one spark can ignite this process.

“Anything can cause a spark, from turning on a light switch to the compressor on your refrigerator,” he added.

This process of extracting THC has been going on for years but with social media it is easier to get this information.

“It is either by word of mouth or social media,” Topadzhikyan added.

This may not lead to an explosion every time but, because it is normally not a practice that is performed by someone who is a scientist, it is not done in a safe lab and explosions are common.

Using a chemical extraction process is a felony in the state of California.

The danger can be found anywhere, including in any neighborhood, and any age of user can be attempting this method.

When asked if there is anything parents should watch for, one of the first signs, according to Topadzhikyan, is butane.

“One of those bottles of butane can fill dozens of lighters, so if you see multiple cans of butane you need to ask the question, ‘Why does he or she have that much?’” he added. “The dangers are real and out there. “

  Mary Okeefe