After evacuating part of downtown Winooski Tuesday, police announced they had uncovered what they rather cryptically called a “clandestine lab.” At a press conference Wednesday morning, Lieutenant Scott McGivern put to rest rampant speculation: “This was not a meth lab.”
He explained that people had been making hash oil using butane, a highly flammable solvent, in the apartment above the Monkey House at 30 Main Street. McGivern characterized the operation as “equally as volatile” as meth production.
In such labs, people use butane to extract THC from marijuana, then evaporate the solvent, often by boiling the oil. The end product is a waxy resin with a high concentration of THC. Butane — commonly used in lighter fluid — is highly flammable, meaning the process is prone to explosions.
During the last few years, U.S. law enforcement officers have been raising the alarm about the dangers of producing butane hash oil, or BHO. In response to a series of explosions, Colorado, where marijuana is legal, passed a law last year that makes home extraction a felony. California has also contended with BHO-related explosions in recent years.
Two weeks ago, the Vermont State Police arrested a Berkshire father for allegedly producing BHO at his house.
Winooski police have identified suspects — McGivern said he couldn’t say how many — but have not yet filed any criminal charges.
McGivern noted that a Vermont law prohibiting “clandestine” labs doesn’t apply to butane hash oil production, but suspects in this case could still be charged with illegally possessing marijuana. Had the operation been a meth lab, police could have also brought charges related to the lab equipment itself.
The marijuana legalization bill currently under review in the Vermont House specifically prohibits chemical extraction, except at authorized dispensaries.
Police found out about the Winooski lab from an anonymous tip, according to McGivern. He said a tenant, who is a suspect, allowed the Winooski fire chief and a code enforcement officer to enter the apartment.
Emergency responders and a private environmental services company, ENPRO, responded to the scene. The State Police actually has a clandestine lab team, which it also dispatched. The on-site investigation lasted roughly 15 hours.
For part of that time, restaurants below the lab were ordered closed, nearby tenants were asked to leave and traffic was rerouted.
By Wednesday morning, all traces of activity were gone, and McGivern emphasized that the site was completely safe.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
What crap. Law enforcement trying to justify their bloated budgets again. Butane. Ridiculous.
“Equally as volatile as meth”…When will law enforcement learn that making such patently absurd and exaggerated statements costs them their credibility with the public..This inevitably leads to a lack of trust, a lack of support and a lack of respect. What’s next..”We called in a haz-mat team, inconvenienced hundreds of residents and commuters because of an individual filling a Zippo lighter”
Use a search engine and find out about the explosive potential of these hash oil labs. Butane is extremely explosive and several of these labs have exploded. In one case recently two cooks were injured and could have been killed when their lab exploded. This Winooski building could have exploded, injuring or killing people in the bar. Although is is doubtless satisfying emotionally to attack the police at every turn, sometimes informing oneself of the the facts makes for a more responsible comment.
“For part of that time, restaurants below the lab were ordered closed, nearby tenants were asked to leave and traffic was rerouted. “
Don’t you think that’s over doing it just a bit… At least there wasn’t a SWAT team on this one.
Charles, I am not attacking the police; I’m acknowledging a fact. When those in authority (law enforcement, government entities, your boss at work, etc.) exaggerate and distort the truth, they sacrifice credibility and respect. With the caveat that you cannot believe everything that your search engine spits out, here are a few facts: Methamphetamine is made up of volatile, toxic, poisonous and really dangerous chemicals such as anhydrous ammonia (poisonous to breathe, explosive, causes chemical burns), red phosphorous (extremely volatile), lithium (poisonous, volatile), hydriotic acid (corrosive to metals and tissue, extremely volatile when mixed with other reactive agents), and lye, just to name a few. Methamphetamine production requires fairly advanced chemistry knowledge; the chance of an explosion is exponentially increased without it. Even when done “properly”, methamphetamine production creates toxic, poisonous waste that is often dumped into the nearest drain or trashcan. Furthermore, the chemicals and fumes created by methamphetamine production permeate the walls, carpets, plaster, and wood of meth labs, as well as the surrounding soil, and are known to cause cancer, permanent brain damage, and immune/respiratory system problems. Now, BHO or butane hash oil is made by running butane though cannabis packed into a glass tube. The butane absorbs the THC and then boils off via evaporation, leaving the THC in the form of an oil. The process involves no other chemicals and leaves no waste product, toxic or otherwise. Is butane flammable? Absolutely. Can using butane be dangerous? Of course. It is also sold over the counter and used frequently in day-to-day life. Many things are dangerous; but the simple fact is that the dangers posed by the use of butane to extract THC (which to an extent do exist, no denial there) and the dangers posed by methamphetamine production cannot and should not be compared.
It’s this kind of cavalier production that makes it hard for local folks to just enjoy a little puff every day! There is no need to risk the lives of people in a multi occupancy building by extracting hash oil in an apartment. Tim your not helping the cause by defending the irresponsible actions of the individuals that were being investigated. We need responsible marijuana users in the media, not these guys.
And yes, having been an EMT for 15 years, every action taken at that seen was justified! All public safety personnel deserve the right to make it home safe after their shift!