By: Budtender Andrew
What is RSO & Who is Rick Simpson?
In the medical side of Cannabis, a product known as Rick Simpson Oil or simply RSO has become a staple. Many who use this product swear by it as a cure-all, citing everything from dealing with chronic pain, to treating gastric issues, and even so far as curing cancer! RSO was developed in 2003 by a man named Rick Simpson as a treatment for his metastatic skin cancer. After successfully treating himself and going into remission, Rick began promoting his oil nationwide, leading to the staple product that we have today. But what is RSO?
What is RSO?
Speaking from a chemical perspective, RSO is an extract made with ethanol and using the whole plant, from stalk to bud. It is made by soaking the plant matter in the ethyl alcohol for several months, simultaneously dissolving the active ingredients and activating the THC. The excess ethanol is then evaporated off and the resulting sticky black substance is RSO. Fully edible and entirely activated, RSO is, gram for gram, the most potent edible that one can ingest, save distillate.
RSO Dosage and Consumption
One must be fairly careful when administering their dosage, and as a result, more often than not RSO is sold in a needle-less syringe in order to facilitate this. After all, it is easier to get an exact amount out of a syringe than trying to scoop it out of a jar. It is also very important to know exactly how many mg of THC are in each gram.
THC Percentage in RSO
All store-bought RSO will have a THC percentage on the packaging, often between 50% and 80% give or take a few. In order to convert this to milligrams simply move the decimal place over one space, for example, a 75.5% THC RSO will have 755mg of THC. Typically on the side of the syringe there will be notches indicating the amount of RSO in the syringe, simply divide the milligram amount by the number of notches to determine how many mg are in each section and this can be used as a method to determine your dose.
If you don’t feel like doing any math however, a glob about the size of an uncooked grain of rice is a safe standard dose for a beginner. I would strongly recommend not using any more than this until you know how that amount will affect you, you can always take more, but you can’t retroactively take less.
Other Benefits of RSO
In addition to RSO being an easier method of consumption, there are also various other benefits. Being a whole-plant extract, RSO contains a very strong terpenoid and cannabinoid profile. While present in regular bud, these compounds act very differently when ingested instead of smoked. Due to being processed by the liver and carried through the bloodstream at a slower rate, these compounds have a greater availability within your body allowing one to get the most out of their RSO in medical terms. Another plus to consuming RSO is the elimination of the need to smoke, removing the one potentially hazardous aspect of cannabis consumption. Heck, the only downside to RSO in my experience has been the taste, which is very planty, somewhat like wheatgrass but with a more “weedy” flavor.
Why Not Try Some RSO Concentrates for Yourself
Of all the ways that one can consume cannabis, Rick Simpson Oil has got to be among the most efficient methods in terms of its sheer medical benefit. With a profile of compounds unseen in any other form of concentrate, RSO has the potential to provide the people who need it with the kind of treatment that simply can’t be touched by other products. If you have a medical need, I would strongly recommend trying some RSO, and as a daily user of it myself I can attest to its efficacy, at least for my own treatment. Do yourself a favor and try it out, it may very well be the “holy grail” you’ve been looking for.
- Budtender Andrew
18 Comments
kris
great article! so my 2.37mg caps are actually then 23.7mg each right?
Monica
No. The RSO caps are pre-dosed. So that means your 2.37mg caps are exactly that, 2.37mgs per cap. That’s the plus side of getting the caps, they are already broken up in doses.
kris
can i put my rso capsules in hot tea?
amynh
You could try it. I’m not sure how well it would dissolve, and it may make your tea taste like licking a wet lawn. If you try it, please let us know how it went.
Jennifer
Can I cook with it?
megan
I just recently got my DE card. I have purchased Rso in the syringe, I have been putting the on gummies and I really don’t get as high asI thought I would with all the great reviews. Would any other meds I am on effect the RSO? I ate like 6 dummies with a rice size amount of RSO and really didn’t feel all that high?
Thanks
amynh
Are you using CBD gummies by chance? CBD will counteract the effects of the THC in RSO. Also, it’s going to depend on the percentages of CBD and THC in your RSO and gummies. You’re probably getting more of the CBD effects, which don’t provide that familiar “high” feeling that THC usually provides.
Stephanie
could these be dissolved and used in food
amynh
Yes, it certainly can. Many people prefer this delivery method, as the taste of the RSO alone is a bit harsh and “earthy”.
SteveO
I have a buddy going through some issues with his liver due to cirrhosis. He’s doing well and is eating healthy and gave up alcohol completely. Is RSO safe for his liver? My guess is yes but I’d rather have an expert opinion thank you in advance!
Casper
He might actually have trouble metabolizing it if he’s still got inflammation…
Kristin
He could always bypass the liver by using suppositories. And that is way more effective with utilizing up to 80% as opposed to orally.
Monica
Absolutely RSO would help. Well it sure as hell wouldn’t hurt him, that’s a fact. RSO (&marijuana in general) has excellent antioxidants, which alone helps the liver function. And you want to find him the right terp profile (cannabinoids) for all of his ailments.
Micheal P Ferland
Long story short I cant smoke anymore. My last plant I made rso. Or feco to be exact. WHAT WAS I THINKING!! Should have done this all along.. hands down best way to consume the flower from heaven.
Tammy Buxton
I have recently tried Mama’s Lou RSO and it is literally the absolute best! It gives a super intense high and the added benefits of the CBD and CBG can be felt in my overall health. I have quit smoking cigarettes almost 80 days ago and I think this product has helped with that. Do yourself a favor and try it. The first few times when they say the size of a grain of rice is true. You will build a tolerance eventually. I never felt like this smoking it. I have lung issues and no more smoking just fun things like Mama Lou’s!!!
Bug storf
Rso is the best… I am a high dose user of THC. Im talking 400 mg of thc per hit… I mean eating it to i never smoke it… The high goes away to fast when I smoke it… Plus I cant stand the coughing of smoking… This product meets my needs very well… I used to be addicted to opiods… Pills… And Rso is the only thing I can find cannabis wise that compairs to a opium euphoria… Plus the pills will kill you cannabis won’t… So the Drug companies want to kill u… Dispensaries are trying to keep u alive and off that pharma crap…
Jilly
Has anyone used RSO topically for breast cancer or should it be taken orally or both? If so, how much and when etc. Thank you in advance for your kindness.
jonnna
I had I had stage 3 melanoma which spread to my lymph nodes. I did 3 months of cannabis oil, 3X a day, and now am cancer free a year later. I had a perfect CT scan (Sept 2020), a perfect brain scan (Feb 2021), a perfect PET scan (2022) and recently another perfect PET scan. No cancer anywhere!I didn’t do any other form of treatment. No surgeries, no chemo, nothing.