Lazarus Naturals RSO
Apical Greens Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) Holistic Blend™
The Hemp Mine Premium Hemp RSO
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a full-spectrum cannabis concentrate that’s produced via simple but thorough extraction. This solvent-based extraction method produces a medicinal concentrate that’s rich with all the plant’s compounds, which makes it notoriously thick, sludgy, dark, and smelly. Named after the Canadian marijuana activist and alternative health advocate Rick Simpson, RSO is consumed orally or topically.
Originally made exclusively from high-THC cannabis, RSO was formulated to be very strong, inexpensive, and easy to make at home. Companies have recently started to make RSO from hemp, producing CBD concentrates of unprecedented strength and unique qualities.
We scoured the web, read consumer reviews, and spoke to experts to find the best RSO products.
The Best RSO Hemp Product
1Lazarus Naturals Hemp RSO
Each ml contains 100mg of CBD
To find the amount that’s right for you, start with a small amount
Each mark on the applicator represents 0.5 ml of RSO
Ingredients: Organic Coconut MCT Oil, Organic Sunflower Lecithin, Hemp Extract
- BrandLazarus Naturals
- Size:50 ml
2Apical Greens Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) Holistic Blend™
Each ml contains 100mg of CBD
Formulated with organic coconut oil
Extraction solvent: Alcohol
Ingredients: Hemp extract
- BrandApical Greens
- Size10 ml
3The Hemp Mine Premium Hemp RSO
Contains 600mg/g of CBD
Contains Non-detectable THC
SC farm mined & refined
Ingredients: Hemp extract
- BrandThe Hemp Mine
- Size1 gm
RSO Hemp FAQ
What’s the actual process?
The RSO process was originally designed for individuals to do it themselves. It involves washing hemp biomass in several cycles of solvent (hopefully alcohol, but naphtha and other hydrocarbons are sometimes used.) The resulting CBD-rich oil is heated to a relatively high temperature until the solvent evaporates, leaving a rich paste of CBD, plant waxes, chlorophyll, and terpenes. The heating process purges the solvent and decarboxylates the CBD, leaving a highly concentrated, "active" product.
The original RSO was extracted using naphtha. Today’s manufactures of hemp RSO use hexane, ethyl alcohol, and other hydrocarbon solvents. While using hydrocarbons to extract cannabinoids is common, it’s important to ensure that any RSO hemp you consume has been carefully purged of any remaining solvents in the oil. Most consumer RSO hemp products are extracted with ethyl alcohol and are considered the “cleanest.” Look at the Certificate of Analysis carefully to ensure that no residual solvents remain in your RSO hemp!
How is hemp-derived RSO different from other CBD products?
RSO hemp is a dark, viscous paste. Due to the manufacturing process, it’s almost always packaged in an oral syringe (which takes some getting used to). Unlike CBD tinctures, RSO hemp is pure hemp oil; it’s highly concentrated and not diluted with any other oils, often more than 100mg CBD per ml.
What are the advantages of RSO hemp?
RSO hemp is highly concentrated and contains the maximum beneficial properties of the hemp plant. This means servings are tiny but very potent, often no bigger than the size of a grain of rice. (If you’re looking for other highly concentrated CBD products, check out our buyers guide to the best extra-strength CBD tinctures.) Because most RSO hemp is dosed in a pre-filled syringe, air does not contaminate the oil. This means you can also expect RSO hemp to have enhanced shelf stability.
Why so smelly?
The RSO extraction process is deliberately efficient, which creates an unusually concentrated product. In fact, the process is so efficient that RSO contains plant waxes, chlorophyll, terpenes, and other compounds from hemp which cause the notoriously strong flavor.
Does RSO Cure Cancer?
Rick Simpson created his pungent oils to help fight his skin cancer and a noxious poisoning incident. Cannabis (hemp and marijuana) has manifold benefits, but no direct link has been made establishing its ability to reduce or eliminate cancer cells. However, anecdotal stories do abound. RSO is not prescribed to treat or cure diseases, but advocates will tell you differently. RSO’s radically full-spectrum properties deliver everything the hemp plant has to offer. Try it, and you be the judge.