Butane is a highly volatile solvent used in extracting crystals containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from cannabis flowers. The process generates a substance known as "hash oil," "honey oil," "resin," "wax," "shatter" or "dab," (hereafter "honey oil").
Butane can easily explode when exposed to an ignition source. The uncontrolled extraction of THC through the use of refined butane causes flammable butane vapors to accumulate low to the ground near ignition sources such as oven and water heater pilot lights, and electric static discharge from floor-covering friction. A study by the County of San Diego's Department of Environmental Health, Hazardous Materials Division, found that 99.5 % of extracted THC butane mixture volatilizes in immediate areas making it highly susceptible to easy ignition. The use of butane in the extraction process has also resulted in numerous incidents, including dwelling fires and explosions causing third-degree burns and other serious injuries, and, in some cases, death. Additionally, innocent bystanders and public safety personnel, including law enforcement officers and firefighters, have been placed at risk or incurred injury when responding to calls for service. A butane honey-oil lab presents a serious hazard for first responders as butane is an odorless gas that can only be detected by a combustible gas instrument. Such conditions present grave risk of loss where devices such as a TASER are capable of igniting the gas, resulting in an explosion.
Most uses of butane do not require the large quantities associated with honey oil production.
The sale of butane occurs at levels sufficient to aid the manufacture of honey oil. Such sales and possession of butane should therefore be regulated to prevent the use of butane in the manufacture of honey oil where such activity presents grave dangers to city residents and first responders. (Ord. 2018-0020 § 2)