Fatal Oklahoma Cannabis Blast Intensifies Scrutiny Of State Marijuana Regulation

A cannabis operator in Oklahoma is facing two counts of felony murder after an explosion at a marijuana extraction facility killed two of his employees and damaged several nearby businesses.

According to prosecutors, Ryan Bassham’s (35) employees, Michael Newman and Stephen Scott, were unlawfully manufacturing hazardous chemicals at Solos Extracts near Tulsa when the incident took place on August 27, as reported by the Associated Press.

Newman, who was conscious when emergency workers arrived but later died at the hospital, reportedly told a paramedic that the area was poorly ventilated and that the blast occurred after he unplugged something, according to court documents.

Investigators said a substantial amount of liquid propane and other hazardous materials were found at the facility.

An earlier check of Solos Extracts in January 2026 did not turn up these items, according to the Sand Springs fire marshal. At the time, the fire marshal found a marijuana extraction booth and an outdated fire suppression system.

The fire marshal ordered the booth disconnected until the facility passed a follow-up inspection. Following last week’s explosion, a subsequent fire marshal’s inspection identified the presence of liquid propane, additional equipment, and hazardous materials within the facility.

According to the owner of a cannabis manufacturing business in the vicinity of Bassham’s operation, Solos Extracts’ facility also had unaddressed ventilation issues.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler utilized the case to urge stricter enforcement of state medical marijuana laws, greater support for regulators and new measures aimed at illegal cannabis operations, reported News On 6.

“I am formally requesting the Oklahoma Legislature to readdress the safety and security of its citizens in light of these developments,” he said.

OMMA’s recent inspection of Solos Extracts deemed the facility as nonoperational.

“As a regulatory body, OMMA routinely inspects all licensed medical marijuana businesses,” the agency said in a statement. “During the most recent inspection of Solos Extract Company LLC, the agency determined that the business was nonoperational and found no evidence of illicit activity.

OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry said the cannabis regulator’s authority has limits, as some of the safety issues now central to the explosion investigation fall under other agencies.

Berry told News On 6 there are several licenses in connection with the Sand Springs site.

“The license they were operating under at that location was a current OMMA license,” Berry said.

However, according to an affidavit in the criminal case, the OMMA license had not been transferred to Bassham, who was the new owner of Solos Extracts.

Bassham is also facing charges tied to a separate alleged illegal marijuana operation near Kellyville, which Berry said was not licensed by OMMA.