Cannabis Business Times
Ryan Bassham, 35, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Aug. 30, according to the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, following an explosion at a licensed medical cannabis extraction facility that killed two people in Oklahoma.
The Sand Springs Police Department responded to the explosion at approximately 1:14 a.m. on Aug. 27 at 411 South Lincoln Ave. in Sand Springs, Okla., where they found the business “severely damaged,” according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).
The explosion damaged at least 25 nearby businesses in the Morrow Gill complex, blowing out roofs, caving walls and twisting heavy metal beams, local media outlets reported via CNN Newsource.
While processing the scene, officers found Stephen Scott, 28, dead and Michael Newman, 41, critically injured, according to OSBI. Newman was transported to a local hospital where he later died, according to OSBI. Both men were employed at the cannabis processing facility, according to OSBI.
County officials called for Bassham’s arrest the next day.
“Based on the information and evidence obtained, the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony arrest warrant for 35-year-old Ryan Bassham on two counts of first-degree murder,” according to an OSBI press release. “On August 30, 2026, Bassham turned himself in to the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and was booked into the Tulsa County jail.”
Bassham’s bail was set at $1 million for each charge. He was released on bond the same day he was booked, according to a court affidavit.
According to the district attorney’s office in Tulsa, Bassham owns Solos Extract Co., which holds an active medical cannabis processor license, according to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA).
The week before the explosion, Sand Springs Fire Marshal Mike Nobles had ordered the business to cease operations after a failed inspection, Tulsa World reported.
Cannabis Business Times reached out to Nobles on Monday morning. He said to call him back in the afternoon but did not return several calls.
CBT also reached out to the OMMA, specifically asking whether Solos Extract was authorized to use flammable solvents under its license, whether it was restricted from operating during certain hours, and whether Bassham is the owner/license holder for the business, as other media outlets reported. (The Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office confirmed with CBT that he is the owner.)
“Local, state and federal law enforcement authorities are currently investigating this matter,” OMMA told CBT in a statement provided by Communications Director Carmin Acupan. “OMMA is coordinating with law enforcement and providing all requested information. Because this is an active investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.”
The OMMA declined to answer a question regarding the state’s processor regulations, instead pointing CBT to a general rules section of the authority’s website.
