A man using a flammable gas to extract the active ingredient from marijuana was hospitalized with first- and second-degree burns today after he sparked an explosion at his West Hollywood apartment.
The blast, reported at 6:50 p.m. Friday at 1260 Havenhurst Drive, between Santa Monica Boulevard and Fountain Avenue, caused two units to be red tagged, displacing 12 other people, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The blast was caused by the man's use of a flammable gas to extract the active ingredient THC from marijuana to make a substance called honey oil, county fire Investigator Quvondo Johnson told reporters at the scene.
Honey oil, also called hash oil, contains concentrated THC and produces a more intense high than unrefined marijuana. It is often extracted from low- grade marijuana or parts of the plant such as leaves and stems that users consider less desirable than the plant's buds, according to marijuana-related websites.
It was unclear whether the man would face criminal charges.
