By Mary O’KEEFE

On July 20, the Glendale Police Dept. Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at a home in the 1400 block of Randall Street in Glendale. They were acting upon information concerning a possible butane honey oil laboratory.

Butane honey oil, also known as concentrated cannabis or hash oil extraction, is what is used to make up potent forms of consumable cannabis concentrates. Butane is the solvent used to extract the oils from the cannabis.

When police arrived at the location, they detained a man, 52, a woman, 45, and the male owner of the home, 54. A search of the residence revealed 33 full butane cans, 15 empty butane cans, butane honey oil manufacturing equipment, finished product of butane honey oil, paraphernalia indicative of selling drugs and over 200 grams of methamphetamine.

The 52-year-old man was identified as John Kelly and was arrested for suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale and manufacturing concentrated cannabis using a volatile solvent. The other two people found at the home were not arrested.

The butane labs are dangerous because of the potential for fire.

“The biggest problem is the fumes,” Marshall said.

The smoke or fumes using butane to create the cannabis concentrate can be heavy and fall to the floor, he said.

“When you walk [across] the floor, you can stir the fumes up and all it takes is a spark,” Marshall said. “That’s when we have fires and explosions.”

These labs can be so small they can be put into a shoe box. Teens can make their own butane honey oil in their home.

“I know [concentrated cannabis] is being [created] a lot and parents may not recognize it,” Marshall said.

He added honey oil looks a little like honey; it is a yellowish color, but it does smell like cannabis. It often gets sold in small plastic containers similar to petri dishes.

Butane cans, a lot of them, and cylinders are the tools used to create the honey oil.

  Mary Okeefe