Butane hash oil production burns surged in Colorado after marijuana liberalization
Burns from homemade butane hash oil extraction increased sharply in Colorado following marijuana liberalization, with 29 cases admitted to a single burn center.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers documented all hydrocarbon burns related to butane hash oil (BHO) extraction admitted to a Colorado burn center from 2008 through 2014. Zero cases presented before medical marijuana liberalization. During the medical liberalization period (2009-2013), 19 cases were admitted. After recreational legalization in 2014, 12 cases were admitted in just 8 months.
The typical patient was a young white male (median age 26). Burns were often severe: median burn size was 10% of total body surface area, median hospital stay was 10 days, 21% required intubation for airway protection, and 19 patients needed skin grafting.
BHO, which can contain up to 90% THC, is manufactured by passing highly volatile butane through cannabis plant material. The process creates explosion risk in enclosed spaces.
Key Numbers
29 total BHO burn cases. Zero before liberalization, 19 during medical era, 12 in 2014 alone. 89.7% male, 72.4% Caucasian. Median age 26. Median 10% TBSA burns. Median 10-day hospitalization. 21% intubated. 19 required skin grafts. BHO contains up to 90% THC.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study using the National Burn Repository to capture all hydrocarbon burns at a Colorado burn center from January 2008 through August 2014. Medical records were reviewed for cases specifically associated with BHO extraction.
Why This Research Matters
This study documented an unintended public health consequence of marijuana liberalization: increased burn injuries from amateur production of concentrated cannabis products. It highlights the need for safety regulations and public education as cannabis markets evolve.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis concentrate production represents a harm that did not exist at scale before legalization. As legal markets develop, regulating manufacturing processes and educating the public about explosion risks from solvent-based extraction at home are public health priorities.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single burn center in one state limits generalizability. The study cannot determine whether these injuries would have occurred without liberalization or represent new behavior. Some BHO-related burns may have been treated at other facilities.
Questions This Raises
- ?Have commercial regulations reduced amateur BHO production injuries?
- ?Do states that legalized later show similar patterns?
- ?What public health messaging is most effective at preventing amateur extraction attempts?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 29 BHO burn cases; zero before liberalization, 12 in 2014 alone
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional study from a single burn center documenting a temporal trend. Cannot prove causation between liberalization and injuries.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2015 using data through August 2014. Regulations around BHO production have evolved since.
- Original Title:
- Butane Hash Oil Burns Associated with Marijuana Liberalization in Colorado.
- Published In:
- Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 11(4), 422-5 (2015)
- Authors:
- Bell, Cameron, Slim, Jessica, Flaten, Hanna K, Lindberg, Gordon, Arek, Wiktor, Monte, Andrew A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00917
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is butane hash oil?
BHO is a concentrated cannabis product containing up to 90% THC, made by using highly volatile butane as a solvent to extract cannabinoids from plant material. Amateur production in enclosed spaces can cause explosions and severe burns.
Did marijuana legalization cause these burn injuries?
The study documented a temporal association: zero BHO burns before liberalization and 29 cases after. It cannot prove direct causation, but the timing strongly suggests that increased cannabis access led to more amateur extraction attempts.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- 420-sober-survival-guide
- CBT-cannabis-recovery
- THC-potency-increase-over-time
- cannabis-harm-reduction-opioids-alcohol-replacement
- cannabis-legalization-effects-health-data
- cannabis-relapse-cycle-pattern
- cannabis-tolerance-break-guide
- cold-turkey-vs-taper-quit-weed
- dating-sober-after-quitting-weed
- exercise-quitting-weed-anxiety-brain
- grieving-quitting-weed-loss
- help-someone-quit-weed
- how-to-cut-back-on-weed-moderation
- how-to-quit-weed
- journaling-weed-withdrawal
- marijuana-anonymous-SMART-recovery-compare
- meditation-mindfulness-weed-withdrawal
- microdosing-cannabis-benefits
- partner-still-smokes-weed
- partner-still-smokes-weed-quitting
- pink-cloud-sobriety-cannabis
- quit-weed-cold-turkey
- quit-weed-or-cut-back-which-is-better
- quit-weed-regret-went-back
- quitting-weed-20s
- quitting-weed-30s
- quitting-weed-after-years
- quitting-weed-during-crisis-divorce-job-loss
- quitting-weed-exercise
- quitting-weed-grief-loss-coping
- quitting-weed-legal-state
- quitting-weed-success-stories
- quitting-weed-triggers-environment
- relapsed-smoking-weed-what-to-do
- relapsed-weed
- safer-cannabis-use-guidelines
- should-i-quit-weed
- sober-music-festival-concert-without-weed
- sober-october-weed
- supplements-weed-withdrawal
- telling-friends-quitting-weed
- tolerance-break-weed
- weed-for-opioid-withdrawal
- weed-relapse-prevention-plan
- weed-relapse-why-it-happens
- weed-ritual-replacement
- weed-ruined-relationships
- weed-social-media-triggers-quit
- bongs-vs-vapes-vs-pipes-comparison
- how-to-tell-if-weed-is-moldy
- how-much-weed-legally-grow-home-state-rules
- healthiest-way-consume-thc-harm-reduction
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00917APA
Bell, Cameron; Slim, Jessica; Flaten, Hanna K; Lindberg, Gordon; Arek, Wiktor; Monte, Andrew A. (2015). Butane Hash Oil Burns Associated with Marijuana Liberalization in Colorado.. Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 11(4), 422-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-015-0501-0
MLA
Bell, Cameron, et al. "Butane Hash Oil Burns Associated with Marijuana Liberalization in Colorado.." Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-015-0501-0
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Butane Hash Oil Burns Associated with Marijuana Liberalizati..." RTHC-00917. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/bell-2015-butane-hash-oil-burns
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.