Denver Postpones Amateur Hash Oil Measure

DENVER (CBS4/AP) - Denver's city council postponed a vote Tuesday that could ban amateurs from using chemicals to extract hash oil.

The process typically uses highly flammable gasses like butane to extract the oil from marijuana. But the process is dangerous and has caused numerous explosions across Colorado.

Mayor Michael Hancock wants to ban the practice and allow only licensed grow houses and businesses to use chemicals.

The council will take up the issue again in a month.

The ordinance would have required home hash-oil production to use only water-based or food-based methods.

Commercial marijuana production facilities would still be allowed to use solvents. Those sites undergo extensive fire-code inspections to make sure flammable gases don't build up.

Penalties for the code violation could result in up to a year in jail and a $999 fine.

LINK: Proposed Hash Ordinance

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