A Complete Guide to Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)

Legacy cannabis folks are likely familiar with Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), a groundbreaking early-aughts industry product that played a significant role in the mainstream acceptance of medicinal cannabis. However, few people know the full story behind the oil’s inception—or why it’s so revered among medical cannabis patients. 

This article breaks down all things RSO oil, from its early development and initial use cases to innovative modern modifications and just who Rick Simpson is. 

What is RSO?

RSO—short for Rick Simpson Oil—is an extremely potent alcohol-based cannabis extract. It’s a full-spectrum concentrate, meaning it includes all of the cannabis plant’s active compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other plant elements. The RSO extraction process is lengthy and complex—sort of like creating a tincture—and the resulting product can be highly effective. 

The oil was originally developed by Rick Simpson, a Canadian engineer who began digging into the benefits of medical cannabis after a workplace accident in 1997 that resulted in a severe head injury. Although medical cannabis was legal in Canada at the time, Simpson struggled to find a doctor who would prescribe it to him. However, it was this very struggle that led him to a powerful global innovation. 

Simpson was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2003, and as a result, he was even more driven to gain access to legal medical cannabis as a form of relief. But this time around, he didn’t bother trying to find someone to come to his rescue—instead, he became his own hero and developed RSO, a product that would go on to become significant for the medical cannabis community. 

What is RSO used for today?

Rick Simpson Oil remains a popular go-to for patients, who regularly turn to the product for things like pain, insomnia, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and other serious conditions. Rick Simpson himself claimed his oil cured his skin cancer. However, be careful not to read into that as fact: a lot of research remains to be done on the product and the endocannabinoid system itself.

Pain relief

Anyone looking for pain relief but hesitant to turn to Big Pharma might want to start by consuming RSO. The concentrated cannabis oil has been widely recognized for its analgesic properties; much of the limited research that has been done on the topic seems to be “promising.” 

Appetite stimulation

Rick Simpson Oil contains a large and potent amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the cannabinoid responsible for the notorious “high” often associated with cannabis consumption. THC is also known for stimulating appetite, so it makes sense that so many consumers have reported RSO as having similar effects. 

Cancer 

Simpson originally created RSO to combat his own cancer diagnosis, and since the product was first developed, many other cancer patients have leaned on the oil to relieve chronic pain from intensive therapies, reduce nausea, and enjoy the plant’s psychoactive effects to distract them from their struggle. 

RSO seems to be highly effective for cancer patients, but you should still consult your physician before trying the product to be sure it’s right for you and your journey. 

Sleep aid

Rick Simpson Oil contains high amounts of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), both of which are recognized for their anti-insomnia properties. Again, the industry still craves hordes of research on Simpson’s creation, but based on the research that’s been conducted on THC and CBD, it’s easier for us to understand why users turn to RSO for a good night’s sleep. 

Can RSO cure cancer?

Without reliable research, we can’t make any definitive claims about what RSO can or cannot do. That being said, there have been quite a few reported successful applications of the product in relieving cancer symptoms outside of a laboratory setting.

This 2013 article revealed how RSO decreased the leukemic blast cell count in a 14-year-old terminal patient, and Simpson himself claims that the oil cured his cancer within four days of being bandaged to the tumor. 

5 RSO weed strains

In general, all cannabis varieties can be used to produce RSO. Most people opt for THC strains, but some prefer CBD oil. However, Simpson recommends opting for indica strains. Here are some of our favorites when it comes to Rick Simpson’s elixir:

• Headband
• Humboldt Dream
• OG Kush
• Golden Sands
• Garlic Budder

How to make RSO

Rick Simpson Oil isn’t exactly easy to make; it’s time-consuming and requires a lot of close attention and expertise. However, if you have the patience, energy, and desire to trial-and-error this lengthy process, here’s the basic how-to:

*Please note: This recipe is inspired by Simpson’s own formulation and will yield approximately 60 grams of oil. 

Ingredients/Equipment

• One pound of dried cannabis flower, preferably indica strains
• Two-three gallons of a solvent (Simpson uses 99 percent isopropyl alcohol)
• Two five-gallon buckets
• An electric rice cooker
• Large spoon for stirring
• Coffee filters or cheesecloth
• Plastic syringes
• Funnel
• Fan (for ventilation)

Steps

1. Place your dried flower in one of the five-gallon buckets, submerging it entirely in your solvent of choice and stirring the mixture.
2. Stir the mixture for about three minutes, allowing the THC to dissolve.
3. Using your coffee filters or cheesecloth, strain the plant material into the second five-gallon bucket.
4. Put that same plant material back into the first bucket, repeating the first two steps.
5. Strain the plant material once again, discarding it when you’re done.
6. Pour your infused solvent into the rice cooker, filling it about three-quarters to the top.
7. Turn the rice cooker on, ensuring it sits at around 210-230 degrees Fahrenheit so the mixture can properly decarboxylate. 
8. Once your solvent has evaporated, use the funnel to transfer the RSO into your syringes. The final product should be thick like honey, so if you’re struggling to dispense it, try running the syringe under hot water first. 

Congratulations! You’re ready to start dosing. 

RSO dosing tips 

There is no one way to consume RSO, but here’s what Simpson generally recommends for 60 grams over the course of 90 days (remember, this is a very potent product):

Week One-Three

For weeks one through three, Simpson recommends starting off low and slow: three small doses per day, about the size of half a grain of rice. 

Week Four and Five

At this point, your body should be ready to double the dosage, ingesting every eight hours.

Week Six-Twelve

Now, it’s time to consume a full gram daily until you’ve hit 60 grams—about eight or nine rice-sized drops every eight hours. 

And beyond…

For continued consumption beyond the 90 days, less is more. Simpson recommends ingesting about one to two grams per month for optimal results. 

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about RSO, in case you’d prefer to forgo the full read and cut right to the chase.

Who is Rick Simpson?

Rick Simpson is a Canadian engineer and medical cannabis advocate who created RSO after he was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma in 2003. He continues to maintain ricksimpsonoil.com, where he educates, connects with consumers, and sells RSO to patients in need. 

Is RSO hard to make?

Not exactly, but it does require a good amount of equipment, time, and attention to detail. If you’re about to embark on your first-ever RSO production session, make sure you do the research ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need to succeed. 

How do you use an RSO syringe?

Place your thumb on the plunger and carefully press down to push oil out of the syringe. It may have an unpleasant taste, so you may want to put it in a capsule to swallow. Simpson recommends taking RSO orally; however, you can also ingest it in suppository form or utilize topical applications. It is not recommended to smoke or vape Rick Simpson Oil. 

Is RSO good for sleep?

As we mentioned, there hasn’t been enough research on RSO to make any definitive statements about its effects and/or benefits. That being said, many RSO consumers anecdotally claim that the oil is highly beneficial for catching uninterrupted Zs.