Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
A piece of lab equipment found outside a cannabis lab was identified as the projectile that shot through the building's roof just outside of Willits city limits on September 12, according to Captain Gregory L. Van Patten.
The lid of a cylinder used to extract cannabis oil failed, after giving in to pressure which blew it through the lab's roof and 75 yards away, according to the captain. He said the object weighed about 50 to 100 pounds and left a path of destruction in the brush.
"If it ran into someone it could have caused a fatal accident," he said.
Willits City and Mendocino County officials said this incident shows why regulation is needed for the industry. With the City of Willits scheduled to approve its medical cannabis ordinance, and the County issuing cultivation permits, officials hope that people involved in the industry will follow safety standards.
"It's an eye opener," Little Lake Fire Chief Chris Wilkes said. "If we want [cannabis manufacturers] in the city we have to make sure they follow safety standards. That's why there's a permit process."
Wilkes was first to respond to the scene when a call was made about a potential explosion. Upon arrival the fire department found no fire or safety hazards. But they did find evidence of illegal activity, he said, which led him to call the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force. Wilkes said the parcel had a marijuana extraction operation, for which the County does not yet have an ordinance.
Located on the 500 block of Cropley Lane, the parcel sits just outside of Willits, and in the County.
City Planner Dusty Duley said he didn't know anything about the operation and acknowledged that manufacturing is still illegal in the city and county.
As with the City of Willits, the Board of Supervisors has still yet to finalize an ordinance detailing regulations for the manufacture of medical marijuana, while the State will begin its licensing for manufacturing shortly before the year ends.
The County won't be close to adoption of a manufacturing ordinance until at least the end of November, according to County Interim Agriculture Commissioner Diane Curry, adding that her estimate is an approximation. She said that once that ordinance is in place, the County Public Health Department will be responsible for processing manufacturing permits.
She acknowledged the complexity for the members of the cannabis industry and legalization of manufacturing. "Is everyone going to halt the process? We know that's not going to happen," she said, emphasizing however that health and safety have to be prioritized.
As the site of the explosion did have multiple greenhouses on the property with several hundred marijuana plants, her department is involved in the explosion investigation. Although Curry couldn't confirm the status of the parcel's cultivation permit due to privacy issues, she did say that the County has issued 15 cultivation permits out of over 700 applications.
However, Chief Wilkes did say that the site does have a cultivation application in with the County Agriculture Department. He said it is important to clarify that no permit has been issued.
Regarding the investigation, Curry said that they have not yet sent out an official from their department to the site. By the end of this week or next week they will send out a biologist and will have an understanding of what the status of the cultivation is. "It will be a question of whether or not they have the ability to be in compliance," she said.
Van Patten said this kind of occurrence is becoming an increasing phenomenon in the county. As for the response from law enforcement in these situations, he said "if they're going through the application process, we are to treat them as being permitted." However, as the site was operating an illegal cannabis lab, their equipment was seized and plants eradicated.
The captain added that the lab was "highly sophisticated" and made by educated people. "To have that catastrophic of a failure shows these things can be a danger to the community," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Projectile object identified in cannabis lab explosion
Author: Hillary Ojeda
Contact: Contact Us
Photo Credit: Glendale PD
Website: Ukiah Daily Journal: Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment & Ukiah News
The lid of a cylinder used to extract cannabis oil failed, after giving in to pressure which blew it through the lab's roof and 75 yards away, according to the captain. He said the object weighed about 50 to 100 pounds and left a path of destruction in the brush.
"If it ran into someone it could have caused a fatal accident," he said.
Willits City and Mendocino County officials said this incident shows why regulation is needed for the industry. With the City of Willits scheduled to approve its medical cannabis ordinance, and the County issuing cultivation permits, officials hope that people involved in the industry will follow safety standards.
"It's an eye opener," Little Lake Fire Chief Chris Wilkes said. "If we want [cannabis manufacturers] in the city we have to make sure they follow safety standards. That's why there's a permit process."
Wilkes was first to respond to the scene when a call was made about a potential explosion. Upon arrival the fire department found no fire or safety hazards. But they did find evidence of illegal activity, he said, which led him to call the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force. Wilkes said the parcel had a marijuana extraction operation, for which the County does not yet have an ordinance.
Located on the 500 block of Cropley Lane, the parcel sits just outside of Willits, and in the County.
City Planner Dusty Duley said he didn't know anything about the operation and acknowledged that manufacturing is still illegal in the city and county.
As with the City of Willits, the Board of Supervisors has still yet to finalize an ordinance detailing regulations for the manufacture of medical marijuana, while the State will begin its licensing for manufacturing shortly before the year ends.
The County won't be close to adoption of a manufacturing ordinance until at least the end of November, according to County Interim Agriculture Commissioner Diane Curry, adding that her estimate is an approximation. She said that once that ordinance is in place, the County Public Health Department will be responsible for processing manufacturing permits.
She acknowledged the complexity for the members of the cannabis industry and legalization of manufacturing. "Is everyone going to halt the process? We know that's not going to happen," she said, emphasizing however that health and safety have to be prioritized.
As the site of the explosion did have multiple greenhouses on the property with several hundred marijuana plants, her department is involved in the explosion investigation. Although Curry couldn't confirm the status of the parcel's cultivation permit due to privacy issues, she did say that the County has issued 15 cultivation permits out of over 700 applications.
However, Chief Wilkes did say that the site does have a cultivation application in with the County Agriculture Department. He said it is important to clarify that no permit has been issued.
Regarding the investigation, Curry said that they have not yet sent out an official from their department to the site. By the end of this week or next week they will send out a biologist and will have an understanding of what the status of the cultivation is. "It will be a question of whether or not they have the ability to be in compliance," she said.
Van Patten said this kind of occurrence is becoming an increasing phenomenon in the county. As for the response from law enforcement in these situations, he said "if they're going through the application process, we are to treat them as being permitted." However, as the site was operating an illegal cannabis lab, their equipment was seized and plants eradicated.
The captain added that the lab was "highly sophisticated" and made by educated people. "To have that catastrophic of a failure shows these things can be a danger to the community," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Projectile object identified in cannabis lab explosion
Author: Hillary Ojeda
Contact: Contact Us
Photo Credit: Glendale PD
Website: Ukiah Daily Journal: Breaking News, Sports, Business, Entertainment & Ukiah News
