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The hotboxing BMW in Chula Vista
Marijuana and local fire danger
Mayah: "If you’re dabbing (cannabis concentrate), make sure the torch is completely off."
Last month, an unidentified man's BMW caught fire in Chula Vista while he was smoking cannabis in the car with the windows up. It's referred to as "hot boxing," explained 911 Video News, which was one of the first on the scene, "smoking marijuana in the car with the windows closed."
The hotboxing method typically takes place in airtight environments—such as cars, dorm rooms, bathrooms, or bedrooms—with windows shut and sometimes a towel lining the bottom of the door. This setup allows smokers to maximize the THC benefits from both primary and second-hand smoke.
From Sessions by the Bay brochure
In the BMW incident, the driver noticed an unusual type of smoke, as reported by the news outlet: "He looked up and saw that the back of the cabin was filling with heavy smoke. He got out and called 911."
Footage of the incident showed the BMW driver unharmed while first responders quickly extinguished the fire.
The legality of smoking cannabis in a parked car remains a topic of debate. The California Department of Cannabis Control states that having "an open container of cannabis while driving or riding in a vehicle is illegal." However, it does not specify whether this applies to parked cars. Discussions on California cannabis forums on Reddit reveal mixed opinions. A former police dispatcher and the child of police officers advised caution: "If you're going to do it — stay out of the driver's seat and keep the keys away from the ignition. If you can sit in the back seat and smoke, all the better. Unfortunately, cops can cite you for DUI even if the car isn't moving. Make it hard for them to prove you had the intention of driving at all." Reddit potheads suggested hiding the key outside the car, while others warned you might get too high and forget where you hid the keys. Then some Redditors said that smoking a blunt and hotboxing in a car on private property should be OK, as long as there are no kids around.
Mayah, a cannabis brand ambassador from Phoenix who frequently travels to San Diego, heard about the BMW hotbox fire: "Hotboxing can work if you’re careful. If you’re smoking a joint, make sure you have a spot to ash it. If you’re dabbing (cannabis concentrate), make sure the torch is completely off. It’s all a matter of safety."
The issue of cannabis-related fires is not isolated. In June, a suspected marijuana grow operation caught fire in an Ocean Beach apartment, as reported by the San Diego Fire Department. This incident, which gained widespread media attention, heightened public concerns about the dangers of unregulated grow operations in residential areas. Many neighbors were unaware that growing cannabis at home was legal. According to the California Department of Cannabis Control, anyone aged 21 and older may cultivate up to six cannabis plants for personal use. However, the use of volatile solvents like butane or propane in processing cannabis into concentrates remains illegal, partly due to the high risk of explosions and fires.
John S. from Chula Vista emphasized the dangers: "Fires are happening with these people's makeshift labs. They are better buying the concentrates at stores and letting the pros with permits and licenses make it."
Locals near the City Heights canyons have reported smelling marijuana smoke emanating from homeless encampments. The mid-city neighborhoods surrounded by canyons have had fires that threatened nearby homes, with some attributing them to cannabis and cigarette use when there's dry brush. However, according to the neighbors, these fires are more likely to result from cooking on makeshift stoves than people smoking.
Looking ahead, John added, "When the marijuana lounges go live, we'll have a safe place to smoke weed." He refers to the soft opening of Sessions by the Bay in National City on February 7, the first legal cannabis lounge in San Diego County, just a few miles north of the initial hotboxing incident.
Mayah is equally enthusiastic about the 16,000 sq./ft. cannabis haven, restaurant, and immersive art spot overlooking the bay. "I have been to a smoking lounge before, but not one with a dispensary as a part of it. You can purchase weed and consume it all in one place; it sounds like a vibe."
Here's something you might be interested in.
The hotboxing BMW in Chula Vista
Marijuana and local fire danger
The hotboxing BMW in Chula Vista
Marijuana and local fire danger
Mayah: "If you’re dabbing (cannabis concentrate), make sure the torch is completely off."
Last month, an unidentified man's BMW caught fire in Chula Vista while he was smoking cannabis in the car with the windows up. It's referred to as "hot boxing," explained 911 Video News, which was one of the first on the scene, "smoking marijuana in the car with the windows closed."
The hotboxing method typically takes place in airtight environments—such as cars, dorm rooms, bathrooms, or bedrooms—with windows shut and sometimes a towel lining the bottom of the door. This setup allows smokers to maximize the THC benefits from both primary and second-hand smoke.
From Sessions by the Bay brochure
In the BMW incident, the driver noticed an unusual type of smoke, as reported by the news outlet: "He looked up and saw that the back of the cabin was filling with heavy smoke. He got out and called 911."
Footage of the incident showed the BMW driver unharmed while first responders quickly extinguished the fire.
The legality of smoking cannabis in a parked car remains a topic of debate. The California Department of Cannabis Control states that having "an open container of cannabis while driving or riding in a vehicle is illegal." However, it does not specify whether this applies to parked cars. Discussions on California cannabis forums on Reddit reveal mixed opinions. A former police dispatcher and the child of police officers advised caution: "If you're going to do it — stay out of the driver's seat and keep the keys away from the ignition. If you can sit in the back seat and smoke, all the better. Unfortunately, cops can cite you for DUI even if the car isn't moving. Make it hard for them to prove you had the intention of driving at all." Reddit potheads suggested hiding the key outside the car, while others warned you might get too high and forget where you hid the keys. Then some Redditors said that smoking a blunt and hotboxing in a car on private property should be OK, as long as there are no kids around.
Mayah, a cannabis brand ambassador from Phoenix who frequently travels to San Diego, heard about the BMW hotbox fire: "Hotboxing can work if you’re careful. If you’re smoking a joint, make sure you have a spot to ash it. If you’re dabbing (cannabis concentrate), make sure the torch is completely off. It’s all a matter of safety."
The issue of cannabis-related fires is not isolated. In June, a suspected marijuana grow operation caught fire in an Ocean Beach apartment, as reported by the San Diego Fire Department. This incident, which gained widespread media attention, heightened public concerns about the dangers of unregulated grow operations in residential areas. Many neighbors were unaware that growing cannabis at home was legal. According to the California Department of Cannabis Control, anyone aged 21 and older may cultivate up to six cannabis plants for personal use. However, the use of volatile solvents like butane or propane in processing cannabis into concentrates remains illegal, partly due to the high risk of explosions and fires.
John S. from Chula Vista emphasized the dangers: "Fires are happening with these people's makeshift labs. They are better buying the concentrates at stores and letting the pros with permits and licenses make it."
Locals near the City Heights canyons have reported smelling marijuana smoke emanating from homeless encampments. The mid-city neighborhoods surrounded by canyons have had fires that threatened nearby homes, with some attributing them to cannabis and cigarette use when there's dry brush. However, according to the neighbors, these fires are more likely to result from cooking on makeshift stoves than people smoking.
Looking ahead, John added, "When the marijuana lounges go live, we'll have a safe place to smoke weed." He refers to the soft opening of Sessions by the Bay in National City on February 7, the first legal cannabis lounge in San Diego County, just a few miles north of the initial hotboxing incident.
Mayah is equally enthusiastic about the 16,000 sq./ft. cannabis haven, restaurant, and immersive art spot overlooking the bay. "I have been to a smoking lounge before, but not one with a dispensary as a part of it. You can purchase weed and consume it all in one place; it sounds like a vibe."
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