Sand Springs Ordered a Marijuana Processor to Shut Down. Two Workers Died There Eight Months Later.
Sand Springs Fire Marshal Mike Nobles told the owner of Solos Extracts to shut down his marijuana processing booth in January because of an outdated sprinkler system. At 1 a.m. on August 27, the facility exploded and destroyed the building, killing two employees. Nobles had no reason to believe anyone was still operating there.
As Brenna Witchey reported, the explosion has exposed systemic gaps in how Oklahoma regulates the marijuana processing facilities where workers use flammable gases like butane and propane to extract consumable products. The state fire marshal’s office has just 13 officers statewide and is not required to return to a facility after it issues a certificate of occupancy — unless the business changes location or use…