Full-extract cannabis oil in syringes for microdosing — what RSO actually is, how to dose, and how it differs from other concentrates.
RSO is a full-extract cannabis oil — typically 60–90% THC — packaged in plastic syringes for precise microdosing. It's named after Rick Simpson, the Canadian self-experimenter who began making and giving it away in the mid-2000s. The format went from underground-DIY to dispensary-shelf legitimate over the next decade. Today it sits on the medical side of most Maryland menus, including ReLeaf Shop.
RSO is the most-misunderstood product in the case. Some shoppers assume it's a cure-all because of how it's been talked about online. It isn't. It's a high-potency cannabis concentrate with a specific dose protocol, and what the research actually says about it is more measured than the internet stories suggest. This piece walks through what RSO is, how patients use it, and what you'll find when you ask for it at ReLeaf.
Rick Simpson worked as a Canadian engineer who, in the early 2000s, began experimenting with topical cannabis oil for skin lesions on his own arm. He published the formulation freely. The recipe — flower extracted with a solvent (originally naphtha, later ethanol), reduced to a thick black-brown oil, then dosed by syringe — became known as Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO.
The oil was DIY before it was commercial. Patients made it in kitchens. Caregivers shared recipes. By the time legal medical cannabis programs caught up, RSO was already an established format with a community of patients who knew it by name. Maryland's medical program licensed RSO production through state-permitted processors, which is what put it on dispensary shelves.
The Rick Simpson story includes a substantial amount of unverified anecdotal claim about cancer outcomes. That part of the lore is what made RSO famous — and what the research record does not support to the degree those stories suggested. More on that below.
The process matters because it explains why RSO behaves differently from other concentrates.
Full-spectrum extract. RSO captures the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of the source flower. Standard distillate strips most of that down to isolated THC. RSO keeps the minor cannabinoids (CBN, CBC, CBG, low-level THCV) and at least some terpenes intact.
Decarboxylated. RSO is heated during production to convert THCA to active THC. That means it works orally without further processing — you can apply it directly to your gum or eat it on a cracker. Most other concentrates need vaporization or combustion to activate.
High-potency. Total cannabinoid content typically lands between 60% and 90%, with THC making up the bulk. A typical 1g syringe contains 600–900mg of THC.
Syringe-dosed. The format is built for tiny, repeatable doses. The recommended starter portion is a grain of rice, which works out to roughly 25mg of total oil and 15–22mg of THC depending on potency.
The standard RSO dose protocol comes from the Rick Simpson community and has been refined over years of patient use. The version most patients work from goes like this.
Week 1. A grain-of-rice dose, three times per day, spaced eight hours apart. That's roughly 75mg of total oil per day, or about 50mg of THC. For someone with no edible tolerance, that's a lot. Expect to feel it.
Weeks 2 through 4. Double the per-dose amount each week if tolerated. By the end of the protocol, daily doses can reach 1g of RSO per day for advanced users.
Most patients don't need to push to the high end. The protocol is built for the original Rick Simpson use case (heavy daily oral use over a multi-week period), and most modern users land at the lower end of the curve — a grain of rice once or twice a day, sustained over weeks.
If you've never used RSO, the conservative starting point is half a grain of rice, taken in the evening, with a 24-hour pause before the next dose. Find your tolerance before scaling up. Our guide to THC and the body covers why oral cannabis hits differently than smoked or vaped.
Three common routes for RSO administration.
Oral. The dominant method. Apply a measured dose to a piece of food (cracker, bread crust, banana slice) and consume. Onset takes 60–120 minutes, similar to standard edibles. Effects last 6–8 hours.
Sublingual or buccal. Apply the dose to the gum line or under the tongue and let it absorb for 60–90 seconds before swallowing. Faster onset (30–45 minutes) and shorter duration than the oral route.
Topical. Apply directly to skin. Used by some patients for localized issues. RSO does not transfer through skin into the bloodstream the way transdermal patches do — see our overview of THC product formats for the topical-vs-transdermal distinction.
Some patients also use RSO in capsules, prepared by drawing a measured dose into a gelatin or vegan capsule. This standardizes the dose and removes the taste — RSO is bitter and earthy, and the unmasked flavor is a deal-breaker for some.
RSO is sold by the gram in plastic syringes. Pricing at most Maryland dispensaries lands in the $35–65 per gram range, depending on the producer and the cannabinoid profile. Some THC-dominant RSO runs at the higher end; CBD-heavy or 1:1 ratio RSO typically prices similar.
ReLeaf carries RSO from multiple Maryland-licensed processors. The brand mix rotates as production batches sell through. The live ReLeaf menu shows current RSO stock and pricing.
RSO is generally a medical-side product in Maryland. Recreational customers can sometimes purchase it depending on dispensary policy and current stock. Medical patients have priority access — Maryland's cannabis-law overview covers the medical vs. recreational distinction.
RSO is a concentrate, but it doesn't behave like the other concentrates on the menu.
RSO vs. shatter. Shatter is a high-potency BHO-extracted concentrate intended for vaporization. RSO is a full-extract oil intended for oral use. Different solvents, different processing, different intended administration route.
RSO vs. live resin. Live resin is a flash-frozen-flower concentrate that retains terpenes for vaporization. Designed to be dabbed or vaped. RSO is decarboxylated for oral use. They share the "concentrate" category but solve different problems.
RSO vs. tincture. Tincture is a liquid extract, usually alcohol-based or oil-based, with much lower cannabinoid concentration than RSO. Tincture might be 10–50mg per ml; RSO is 600–900mg per gram. RSO is roughly 20x stronger by volume.
RSO vs. distillate. Distillate is highly refined, mostly isolated THC, low-to-no other cannabinoids. RSO is full-spectrum, retains the minor cannabinoids and at least some terpenes. Different extract philosophies — distillate optimizes for purity; RSO optimizes for whole-plant profile.
The internet has done RSO no favors. A few honest corrections.
"RSO cures cancer." The viral version of the Rick Simpson story claims RSO cures cancer. The peer-reviewed research record does not support that claim. Cannabinoid research has shown some preclinical (cell culture and animal-model) anti-tumor activity for THC and other cannabinoids in specific cancer types, but the gap from preclinical studies to "RSO cures cancer in humans" is enormous. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling something. RSO may help patients undergoing cancer treatment manage side effects — appetite, nausea, sleep, pain — and those outcomes are documented anecdotally and in some clinical trials. Side-effect management is meaningful. It is not the same as curing the underlying disease.
"RSO is the strongest cannabis product." Not really. RSO is high in total cannabinoid content (60–90%) but distillate can hit 90%+ THC isolation. The "strongest" depends on what you're measuring — total cannabinoids, isolated THC, or onset speed. RSO is high-potency and full-spectrum. It is not a magic bullet.
"RSO will get you very high." True for most users. A 25mg starter dose is a strong oral cannabis experience for someone with no edible tolerance. Don't take RSO casually expecting a mild buzz — it isn't built for that.
"RSO doesn't smell like weed." It smells very strongly like weed. The flavor is intensely earthy and bitter. The taste is the most common reason patients move to capsule format.
RSO has a specific user. Patients who are looking for a high-potency, full-spectrum oral cannabis option for sustained therapeutic use — typically those managing chronic conditions where standard formats don't deliver enough cannabinoid load per dose. The microdose protocol is the structural advantage; you can take a precise small amount, repeatedly, with predictable effect.
RSO is not the right starting point for casual or recreational use. The potency, the dosing complexity, and the price all argue for starting with a standard edible or vape if you're looking to explore cannabis. Once you understand your tolerance, RSO becomes optional.
For Maryland patients new to RSO, the most useful step is a budtender consultation. The dose, the brand, and the cannabinoid ratio all matter. Walk in, ask, and start slow.
RSO, or Rick Simpson Oil, is a full-extract cannabis oil that typically contains 60–90% total cannabinoids. It is usually sold in plastic syringes so patients can dose very small, repeatable amounts.
RSO stands for Rick Simpson Oil, named after Rick Simpson, the Canadian self-experimenter who helped popularize the full-extract cannabis oil format in the mid-2000s.
RSO is most commonly used orally. Patients usually place a small measured amount on food, such as a cracker or banana slice, or apply it to the gum line before swallowing. Oral onset typically takes 60–120 minutes.
A conservative beginner dose is half a grain of rice or smaller, usually taken once in the evening with at least 24 hours before redosing. Depending on potency, that may be roughly 7–10mg of THC, so new users should start very slowly.
RSO is very potent. A typical 1g syringe can contain 600–900mg of THC, depending on the product’s cannabinoid percentage. It is much stronger by volume than most tinctures or edibles.
No. RSO is much more concentrated than a tincture. A tincture might contain 10–50mg per ml, while RSO can contain 600–900mg per gram, making RSO roughly 20 times stronger by volume in many cases.
No. Distillate is highly refined and usually focuses on isolated THC. RSO is full-spectrum, meaning it keeps more of the plant’s minor cannabinoids and some terpene profile. Distillate prioritizes purity; RSO prioritizes whole-plant extraction.
No. Live resin is usually made for vaping or dabbing and is prized for terpene-rich flavor from flash-frozen flower. RSO is decarboxylated and designed mainly for oral dosing, not inhalation.
RSO is not designed for smoking or dabbing. It is typically used orally, sublingually, buccally, topically, or in capsules. Other concentrates like shatter, wax, live resin, or rosin are better suited for inhalation.
Oral RSO usually takes 60–120 minutes to kick in, similar to an edible. Sublingual or buccal use may act faster, often around 30–45 minutes, depending on the user and dose.
RSO effects commonly last 6–8 hours when taken orally. Because it is potent and long-lasting, users should avoid redosing too quickly and should give each dose enough time to fully take effect.
Yes, RSO can get you very high because it is usually THC-rich and orally active. Even a small syringe dose can be strong for users without edible tolerance.
Yes. Maryland-licensed processors can produce RSO under the state’s cannabis program, and ReLeaf carries RSO from multiple Maryland-licensed processors when available.
Sometimes, depending on current stock and dispensary policy. RSO is generally treated as a medical-side product in Maryland, and medical patients usually have priority access.
No. The article clearly states that peer-reviewed research does not support the claim that RSO cures cancer. RSO may help some patients manage side effects like appetite, nausea, sleep, or discomfort, but it should not replace standard medical care.
RSO is a high-potency, full-spectrum cannabis oil with a specific use case. It's not the strongest concentrate on the shelf, it's not a cure-all, and it's not the right starting point for casual use. For patients who need a precise oral microdose protocol, RSO is one of the best tools the medical menu offers. Start small, dose slowly, and consult your budtender or clinician on the right cannabinoid ratio for your situation. The live ReLeaf menu shows what's currently in stock. The beginner's medical guide covers dosing fundamentals across formats.
