What is RSO? Is it for me?
By Markita Wilburn, PharmD
After visiting a Maitri dispensary, you may have wondered about the syringes in our display cabinets. Or, you may have read the acronym “RSO” scattered throughout our menu and wondered, “What’s up with that?”
Of the many forms of approved formulations we dispense, RSO is the subject of our most frequently asked questions. What exactly is it? How do you use it? Is it really as potent as they say it is?
So, what exactly is RSO? RSO stands for Rick Simpson Oil (more on Rick Simpson later!) and is a highly potent cannabis oil. We typically recommend it for patients medicating symptoms of terminal illnesses, conditions requiring higher dosages, or for experienced patients with a higher-than-average tolerance.
RSO is the end product of a simple extraction technique that yields very high concentrations while ensuring all plant components are present—cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. It is immensely dark in color, thick, and sticky in consistency, similar to tar. It is packaged and stored in a syringe for easy consumption, not for exact dose-measuring as many assume (do not take a whole syringe of RSO!). This makes it easier to withdraw doses before consumption.
You do not need to be critically ill to benefit from RSO. For example, I am cannabis experienced and enjoy consuming RSO in small doses for overall wellness. I’m a big fan of the entourage effect. So, getting the whole plant in a concentrated formulation offers me all the flavonoids and terpenes I’m seeking on my medical marijuana journey — not wanting to miss out on any of the medicinal properties the whole plant offers.
Now, back to Rick Simpson. Simpson was diagnosed with skin cancer almost 20 years ago. Because he successfully medicated with cannabis for other conditions, he designed his cannabis extraction method to yield the highest cannabinoid concentration. He applied the resulting oil to his skin cancer topically, and within days, the cancerous bumps on his skin disappeared. He became world-famous when he shared this technique with the world.
How do I dose it? How do I consume it?
Thankfully, RSO is an activated formulation, requiring no heat before consumption. Because of this, patients have many options on how to administer it. RSO has a strong, bitter taste that can linger, so I always suggest taking it with a snack high in fats (like a spoonful of peanut butter, avocado, or yogurt) to mask its bitter taste and increase its absorption throughout the body. Some patients like to freeze individual doses on parchment paper, take them by mouth, or dilute them in their morning tea or coffee.
As the oil is potent, we advise you to start low and slowly increase doses only after four or more days of consistent consumption. We recommend measuring doses compared to the size of a dry grain of rice. A typical dose is one rice grain. Patients new to cannabis should start with 1/3 of a rice grain size. More experienced patients may start with 1/2 the size of a rice grain.
Effects are generally felt within 30 minutes of sublingual (under the tongue) consumption and last up to 5 hours.
Tips from the Pharmacist
Because RSO is consumed orally, it is categorized under “Infused Edibles” on our menu.
If you have trouble extracting a dose from the syringe, try submerging the syringe in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the oil to loosen. Make sure the cap is securely fastened before doing so.
Regarding THC potency, RSO can be up to four times stronger than most dry leaf forms. It can be microdosed and utilized cost-effectively, but be sure to consult with your medical marijuana pharmacist.
If self-dosing with an RSO syringe intimidates you (you’re not alone!), you can also look for RSO available in capsules on our menu.
I believe that cannabis is easily the most diverse plant in how vastly it is utilized across various medical conditions. We still don’t fully understand all the ways it can be consumed. But if you want to try something new in your wellness journey that offers the benefits of a whole plant experience, I recommend giving RSO a shot. Just remember — Start Low and Go Slow.