As NM braces for legal marijuana, experts warn about dangers of extraction labs

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- As New Mexico moves into a new era of legal marijuana, law enforcement agencies are warning there’s a new danger on the horizon: THC extraction labs.

THC extraction labs can be highly dangerous not only for legitimate companies but for people at home trying to illegally do it themselves.

For example, in April 2021, an explosion rocked an Albuquerque apartment after authorities say one man was critically injured when he used butane for an illegal marijuana extraction lab.

“What’s at stake is your safety and the safety of those around you,” said Trishelle Kirk of Everest Apothecary, a medical cannabis company.

The company operates a licensed extraction lab where trained professionals use a highly scientific process to extract THC — the psychoactive chemical found in cannabis.

“It uses pressure, vacuums and heat to pull as much THC oil out as possible — and you need to have a very controlled lab environment to make sure that that process is conducted safely,” said Kirk.

Extracts can be packaged in a variety of ways, from oils to vape pens to waxes.

However, a quick search online reveals countless videos of people attempting to make their own extracts on the cheap, often putting their own safety at risk. [Read More @ KOB4]

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