On Sept. 6, 2018 Airdrie RCMP was dispatched to a garage explosion on 1 Avenue NE in Airdrie. Two males inside the garage at the time of the explosion were transported to hospital with serious injuries.
The Airdrie RCMP Crime Reduction Unit obtained a search warrant for the damaged garage and home which led RCMP to seize over 300 new and empty butane cans, along with equipment to aid with the extraction of hash oil from the cannabis. Butane hash oil (BHO), or honey oil is a thick waxy oil that can be smoked or vaporized which gives a user an intense high. The BHO is further refined by heat and negative pressure to create a crystalized substance referred to as "shatter".
Police also seized 45 pounds of cannabis.
Three males have been charged in relation to this search:
- A 22-year-old male of Calgary
- A 24-year-old male of Airdrie
- A 24-year-old male of Airdrie
All three individuals have been charged with the following offences and will appear at Airdrie Provincial Court on Oct. 25, 2018:
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cannabis) - Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
- Production of cannabis - Section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
- Possession of cannabis resin over one gram - Section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Airdrie RCMP would like to remind the public that although the laws surrounding cannabis possession and production are changing after Oct. 17, 2018, cannabis oil extraction labs will remain illegal under the new Cannabis Act. In addition to being illegal, they are extremely dangerous. The use of highly flammable compounds in these labs, such as butane in this case, create a serious public safety risk. If those compounds ignite, the explosion could seriously injure or kill others in the area.
After Oct. 17, 2018, it will be an offence under Section 12(1) of the Cannabis Act to manufacture cannabis derivatives using organic solvents.