Who is Rick Simpson?
Rick Simpson is a Canadian medical cannabis activist and cultivator from Nova Scotia. In 1997, Rick had been working as an engineer and had a workplace accident that left him with chronic ringing in his ears and dizziness. Rick saw little to no success with traditional medicine and sought out alternatives. At this time, he started treating his symptoms with cannabis and saw firsthand the effects it had on relieving his symptoms. This started him on the path to becoming one of North America’s most well-known medical cannabis activists.
Unfortunately for Rick, that was not the end of his health concerns, and in 2003 was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (a form of skin cancer). He became inspired when he found a 1975 study that showed cannabis compounds had inhibited the growth of cancer cells, and this gave him the idea to try it himself. He applied it directly to his cancer site and covered it with a bandage for four days. Rick indicates that the cannabis oil he created is what cured his carcinoma, but these results have not been replicated.
What is RSO?
RSO or Rick Simpson Oil is a concentrated, full spectrum, high THC cannabis oil.
How is RSO made?
Many tutorials can be found that explain the process of making RSO online. The methods vary, but the starting material, a high THC (usually Indica, for its high THC and relaxing effects) flower decarboxylated, is washed in a solvent (this can be 99% isopropyl alcohol, but grain alcohol is recommended). This process removes all the oil and resin goodness from the dried flower, and this mix is then filtered to ensure there is no plant material remaining before being boiled to evaporate the solvent. What you are left with is a dark, almost black appearance, thick, sticky oil that not only has all the THC that was present in your starting material but all the terpenes and flavonoids. This makes it a true full-spectrum oil.
Notes on making RSO: making RSO can be a very messy process, and you will need to save some of your solvents for cleanup. It also produces a lot of alcohol fumes. Always use caution and make sure the area is well-ventilated, with no sparks or flames. A method that recaptures the alcohol (such as using a distiller to boil off the solvent) is recommended. Safety first!
What is RSO used for?
As previously mentioned, Rick Simpson developed RSO to treat his Basal Cell Carcinoma. Still, it has since been used to treat many conditions that benefit from high THC formulations and those that respond to terpenes and flavonoids. This is by no means a complete list, but some of the conditions it is used for are:
· Anxiety and depression
· Neurological conditions such as MS, ALS, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia
· Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
· Asthma
· Infections
· Inflammation
· High cholesterol
· Fibromyalgia
· Insomnia
· High Blood Pressure
· AIDS
· Chronic pain
How do I dose RSO?
RSO is a concentrated form of THC and can be difficult for people new to cannabis to tolerate. To help with this, below are some dosing guidelines for the majority of the RSO products available on the Canadian regulated market. Treatment plans generally involve taking three doses a day orally, roughly 8 hours apart, and should be administered as follows:
· Week 1: one drop the size of half a grain of rice three times a day.
· Weeks 2 and on: slowly increase the number of drops per dose, Week 2: 2 drops, Week 3: 3 drops, etc. Until satisfied with symptom relief.
You may notice increased drowsiness; this product is best suited for relaxation and sleep purposes.
Where can I get RSO?
RSO can be purchased legally from several Medical and recreational distributors in Canada, including Abba Medix. It’s also available in several different formats to meet the needs of clients looking for the benefits of the RSO without the hassle of dealing with a messy tar-like oil.
Looking for pre-measured doses? Try an RSO capsule.
Trying to avoid taking more pills? Maybe try an RSO vape cartridge
Are edibles your thing? Pick your flavour! There are a variety of tasty products to choose from.
If you are interested in trying RSO to relieve your symptoms, ask your healthcare professional if getting a prescription is right for you. If you already have a prescription, check with your producer to see their available RSO products.
Written By: Garnet Skinner, CTE Halifax.