On 04-01-2021, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address in the 27000 block of Lawrence Rd. north west of Elmira regarding the location of a stolen vehicle. During the investigation deputies encountered what appeared to be a large, illegal Butane Marijuana Hash Oil (BHO) extraction lab. The Sheriff’s Office applied for and was granted a search warrant for the Lawrence Rd. property and an associated address on E. Broadway Ave. in Veneta. Several people were contacted on the property and identified. During the warrant service deputies additionally discovered a vacant residence at the Lawrence Rd. property that was being solely used for growing suspected psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as “magic mushrooms” due to their hallucinogenic effect on people. The entire residence had been converted into a growing and drying structure for the mushrooms. The residence was filled with racks from floor to almost ceiling height that held what is estimated to be hundreds of clear, grocery sized bags containing an unknown soil type material and multiple growing mushrooms. The warrant at both locations was served without incident. The manufacture of Butane Marijuana Hash Oil is extremely dangerous due to the explosive, highly flammable nature of butane as used in the extraction process. Butane Marijuana Hash Oil extraction labs are illegal by Oregon Revised Statute unless the manufacturer is licensed and in compliance with state statutes through the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). This location was not a licensed site. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Oregon State Police and Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) during the investigation. Notable items seized during the execution of the warrant: 16 Firearms, one of which was reported stolen; A large amount of US currency packaged in bundles of $10,000; A cash counting machine; Apprx. 465 bags of suspected psilocybin mushrooms; Conservatively estimated at dozens of pounds of finished marijuana hash oil extract; Conservatively estimated at hundreds of pounds of dried marijuana; An enclosed cargo trailer; A recovered stolen pickup; No suspects have been taken into custody at this time and the investigation is on going.
