Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jun 2016
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Chico Enterprise-Record
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Author: Ashiah Scharaga

BUTANE RESALE, POSSESSION LAWS COULD BE ADOPTED IN CHICO

Chico - Butane resale and possession may soon be restricted in Chico 
to crack down on illegal honey oil labs.

The Chico City Council will weigh in on an ordinance 6 p.m. Tuesday 
in the City Council Chambers.

Butte County has experienced a significant increase in the seizure of 
butane labs, three of which have involved explosions at apartment 
complexes in Chico. In three years, Butte Interagency Narcotics Task 
Force agents investigated and shut down 103 labs, with the number 
shut down per year more than tripling in two years.

Butte County is the second worst county in the state when it comes to 
butane lab seizures. Los Angeles County is first, with only 6 more 
seizures last year than Butte.

The explosions from these labs have caused property damage, injury 
and death to illegal manufacturers as well as those who were 
uninvolved. Explosions can be sparked by obvious things like 
cigarettes and torching devices, but also by seemingly innocuous 
sources, like wall or thermostat switches, refrigerator motors, wall 
outlets, electric pumps and static electricity.

The volatile nature of the process poses "serious hazards" and 
endangers citizens, according to the ordinance.

Restrictions are as follows:

People cannot sell more than 600 mL of butane per single transaction.

Customers cannot purchase more than 600 mL of butane during any 30-day period.

People cannot possess more than 600 mL of butane at any time unless 
they are wholesalers, businesses or companies selling butane 
commercially, or canisters that contain a sulfur-containing odorant.

Sellers must keep thorough records of their sales for at least two 
years, including purchaser's name and address.

Any violations are considered public nuisances and misdemeanors and 
could involve a $1,000 penalty and/or six months in county jail. The 
city can, however, reduce charges to infractions.

Also Tuesday, the City Council will make its first revisionary 
comments regarding the proposed budget for 2016-17. City staff will 
summarize two previous budget presentations, discuss and review 
budget policies, go over fund allocations, present financial 
forecasts and highlight notable areas of the budget.

[sidebar]

How does it work?

Butane honey oil laboratories extract Tetrahydrocannabinol, also 
known as THC, from marijuana plants by using a butane extraction process.

This produces a concentrated form of marijuana, also known as honey 
or hash oil, which is then smoked, ingested, or vaporized.

When refined butane evaporates during the extraction, a very volatile 
vapor is produced that isn't easily detectable by humans and is 
odorless, colorless and heavier than air, often pooling in low areas 
near ignition sources.
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