Ryan Bassham, 35, faces two counts of first-degree murder following a deadly explosion at his cannabis extraction facility in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. The blast occurred on Thursday at the Solos Extracts facility, killing two employees, Michael Newman and Stephen Scott. Bassham turned himself in last weekend after prosecutors filed the charges against him.
Adam Jones, a spokesman for the Tulsa County district attorney’s office, told the Associated Press that the victims worked for Bassham at the site. Prosecutors believe the employees were unlawfully manufacturing hazardous chemicals that led to the explosion. Court records indicate that Bassham purchased the business last year and was seeking updated licenses from the state.
The incident has raised serious safety concerns within the local cannabis industry. A fire marshal who inspected the facility in January found an outdated fire suppression system. The marshal also noted equipment commonly used for manufacturing cannabis products during that initial visit.
According to court documents outlined by the Associated Press, Newman told a paramedic on the way to the hospital that the area was not well ventilated. He stated that the explosion occurred after he had unplugged something in the workspace. Newman later died at the hospital from his injuries.
After the explosion, the fire marshal returned to the facility and found large amounts of liquid propane. Other hazardous materials were also present that were not there during the January inspection. These findings support the theory that illicit chemical manufacturing triggered the blast.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority provided a statement to the Tulsa District Attorney regarding its oversight. The agency determined that Solos Extract Company LLC was nonoperational during its latest inspection. It found no evidence of illicit activity at that time.
Bassham was released from a Tulsa jail after posting a $2 million bond. Prosecutors indicated that no other injuries occurred beyond the two fatalities. The case remains active as legal proceedings move forward in Tulsa County.
The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority stated that it would have immediately shut down the operation if inspectors had suspected illicit activity. The agency added that it would have filed an administrative case against the licensee in such a scenario.
The explosion damaged nearby businesses in the Sand Springs area. Crews are currently assessing the structural damage to surrounding properties. The incident underscores ongoing safety and licensing questions in Oklahoma’s evolving medical marijuana industry.
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