Yeah one needs the asbestos for the still.
Not to worry. Asbestos is found naturally in serpentine, the most common rock in the SF bay area. Mercury (cinnabar) is also natural in the north and south bay. It is the red dirt (not to be confused with the high iron dirt.) that people used to pave garden paths with. Used to be sold in garden centers.
California has some of the most draconian home distilling laws of any of the states. Problem is one can smell them a mile away. Must protect those oil and gas profits. In theory you can use it to make rocket fuel. The regulations are ridiculous. Mostly there to protect big business.
Of course most absinthe these days does not contain wormwood. When the Czech republic wanted to join the EU, was when the restrictions were lifted. This is now known in the trade as Czecinthe. The Swiss claim they follow the old recipes. Who is to really know. I cant really afford the good stuff as I am too busy buying radioactive watches while I still can. Two out of three, this week alone.