Butane hash oil (BHO) is a cannabis concentrate made by washing cannabis with liquid butane, which dissolves THC and terpenes, then removing the butane to leave a sticky extract that often tests at 60 to 90 percent THC. Depending on how it is processed, BHO becomes shatter, wax, budder, crumble or sauce. It should only be made by licensed labs: home butane extraction causes explosions and severe burns, and it is a crime in Washington and Oregon.
We first wrote about BHO in 2015, when dabbing was just going mainstream. A decade later BHO products line the shelves of licensed stores, but the basic facts have not changed: it is very potent, the quality depends on how well the butane was removed, and the production process is dangerous outside a professional facility. This guide explains what BHO is, the main types, what purging means, the safety record of home extraction and the law. For how concentrates are consumed, see our dabbing guide; for all extraction methods side by side, see how cannabis concentrates are made.
What Is Butane Hash Oil?
BHO belongs to the family of hydrocarbon extracts. Butane is a good solvent for cannabinoids and terpenes and boils at a low temperature, which lets processors remove it without cooking off the flavor compounds. That is why BHO tends to be both strong and aromatic. A peer-reviewed study of Colorado burn cases described BHO, sold under names such as amber, dab, glass, honey, shatter and wax, as containing up to 90 percent THC. For comparison, most retail flower sits roughly between 15 and 30 percent.
Some processors blend butane with propane; the resulting products are still generally sold as hydrocarbon or BHO extracts.
Types of BHO: Shatter, Wax, Budder and More
All BHO starts from the same basic extraction. The texture comes from what happens afterward: how the oil is purged, whether it is whipped or agitated, and how its molecules settle.
| Type | Look and texture | How it gets that way |
|---|---|---|
| Shatter | Glassy, translucent amber; snaps like hard candy | Left undisturbed so molecules stay in a stable, glass-like state |
| Pull-and-snap / taffy | Between shatter and wax; stretches then breaks | Slightly more moisture or terpene content than shatter |
| Wax | Opaque, soft and sticky | Agitated or heated during purging so it crystallizes |
| Budder / badder | Creamy, like whipped butter | Whipped during purging to aerate it |
| Crumble | Dry, pale, falls apart | Purged longer at low heat to remove more moisture |
| Sauce and diamonds | Crystalline THCA “diamonds” in a terpene-rich liquid | Slow separation over days or weeks under controlled conditions |
| Live resin | Usually saucy or buttery; strong aroma | Made from fresh-frozen plants rather than dried flower |
Texture says little about strength or safety. A clean shatter and a clean budder made from the same starting material will have similar potency. Store concentrates in airtight, cool, dark containers; our guide to storing shatter covers the details.
What Does Purging Mean?
Purging is the step that removes leftover butane from the extract. Licensed processors typically use vacuum ovens, which lower the boiling point so solvents evaporate at gentle temperatures, then send finished product for lab testing.
In legal markets, regulators set limits for residual solvents, and products must pass those tests before sale. That is one of the strongest reasons to buy BHO only from licensed stores. Untested product from an unlicensed maker may contain leftover butane, along with impurities from low-grade solvents. A harsh chemical taste after a dab can be a sign of poor purging, though taste is not a reliable test. A lab certificate is.
Why Home BHO Extraction Is So Dangerous
Butane is heavier than air and extremely flammable. During extraction, large volumes of butane gas escape. Indoors it can pool along floors and in enclosed spaces until it reaches a spark: a pilot light, a refrigerator motor, a light switch or static electricity. The result is a flash fire or explosion. This is why we do not describe the process here, and why no tutorial makes it safe at home.
The medical literature documents the toll:
- A Colorado study found 29 BHO burn admissions at one burn center from 2008 to 2014, none before medical marijuana liberalization. About a fifth of patients needed intubation to protect their airways, and most needed skin grafts.
- A larger burn-center review of 2007 to 2014 identified 101 patients with BHO-related burns. On average they burned more than a quarter of their body surface and spent about four weeks in the hospital. Three died, and cases rose over the study period.
The damage often extends to neighbors. In Washington, a 2013 hash oil explosion in a Bellevue apartment building killed a resident, and the man responsible was later sentenced in federal court.
If you want a homemade concentrate, legal solventless options such as dry sift, ice water hash or a rosin press involve no flammable gas. Oregon’s ban targets solvent extraction, but home concentrate rules are specific, so check our Oregon marijuana laws guide first.
Is BHO Legal?
In Washington and Oregon, adults 21 and older can buy BHO from licensed stores within state concentrate limits. Washington allows adults to possess up to 7 grams of concentrate; see our Washington marijuana laws guide for the full limits.
Making it is another matter:
- Washington: extracting THC with solvents without a state processor license is illegal manufacturing, regardless of I-502.
- Oregon: unlicensed production of cannabinoid extracts is a felony, and a 2017 law created specific arson crimes for fires caused while making them.
- Federally: marijuana extracts remain controlled substances, and federal prosecutors have charged BHO lab operators, especially after fires. See federal cannabis laws.
Rental agreements, insurance policies and building codes add further consequences. Licensed processors work in rooms built with ventilation, gas detection and spark-free equipment for good reason.
How to Use BHO Safely
- Buy only from licensed stores; find one in our Washington or Oregon directories.
- Check the label for THC content and a lab-tested batch.
- Start with a dose far smaller than you would expect; a rice-grain size is common advice for beginners.
- Use a dab rig, an e-nail with temperature control, or a dab pen. Lower temperatures are smoother and avoid harsher byproducts.
- Store concentrates where children and pets cannot reach them.
Butane Hash Oil FAQ
Is butane hash oil safe to smoke?
Lab-tested BHO from a licensed store has passed residual solvent limits. The bigger risks are its high potency and the heat used to dab it. Untested BHO may contain leftover solvent.
What is the difference between shatter and wax?
Both are BHO. Shatter is left still and stays glassy; wax is agitated during purging so it turns opaque and soft. Potency is similar.
How strong is BHO?
Typically 60 to 90 percent THC, several times stronger than most flower. A small amount produces strong effects.
Is BHO better than rosin?
Neither is automatically better. BHO is often cheaper and higher-yielding; rosin is solventless and made with only heat and pressure. Read more: Live Resin vs Live Rosin. Both can be high quality.
Can you make BHO at home legally?
No. Home butane extraction is illegal in Washington and Oregon and has caused fatal explosions. Solventless methods are the safe alternative where home cultivation is legal.
For adults 21+ in legal states. General information, not medical advice.
