Key Takeaways
- Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) revolutionized cannabis medicine, emerging from Rick Simpson’s personal health struggles to become a symbol of grassroots healing.
- Simpson’s extraction method focused on a full-spectrum approach, capturing a range of cannabinoids and compounds for enhanced effectiveness.
- The movement around RSO emphasizes patient empowerment, advocating for cannabis as a natural medicine accessible to all.
- Today, variations of RSO exist in regulated markets, supporting safe and consistent medicine backed by modern testing methods.
- RSO’s legacy highlights the evolution of cannabis from an underground remedy to a recognized form of legitimate medicine, rooted in the community.
Cannabis medicine has many legends, but few names have carried as much impact—or controversy—as Rick Simpson. Long before cannabis legalization took shape, Simpson stood at the edge of a movement that would redefine what people thought the plant could do. His creation, known today as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), became both a symbol of grassroots healing and a catalyst for the evolution of modern full-spectrum cannabis extracts. Continue reading for more information on Rick Simpson Oil history.
In the early 2000s, Simpson was a Canadian engineer who found himself struggling with serious health challenges. After a personal diagnosis of skin cancer, he began exploring alternative therapies. Frustrated by conventional treatments and inspired by research that hinted at cannabis’s potential to fight disease, he decided to take matters into his own hands. What he created wasn’t just another cannabis extract—it was a revolution in plant medicine.
The Birth of Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
Rick Simpson’s process was surprisingly simple but groundbreaking for its time. He used cannabis flower and a solvent to extract a thick, dark, tar-like oil rich in cannabinoids. The goal wasn’t just to isolate THC; it was to capture the full range of compounds the plant had to offer—THC, CBD, CBN, terpenes, and more. This “whole plant” extraction method became the foundation of what we now call full-spectrum oil.
Simpson applied the oil topically to his cancer spots and claimed that within days, his skin began to heal. Whether that result was medical miracle, coincidence, or something in between, the moment sparked something much bigger. He began sharing the oil with others who were seeking relief from a wide range of conditions, and word spread fast.
By the mid-2000s, RSO had become part of cannabis culture. The letters themselves—RSO—became shorthand for the kind of medicine that comes straight from the people, not the pharmaceutical industry. It was bold, defiant, and deeply human.
A Movement Born in Rebellion
The story of Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) isn’t just about oil; it’s about resistance and compassion. Rick Simpson believed that cannabis should be freely available to anyone who needed it, and he refused to charge for the oil he produced. That decision put him in conflict with authorities more than once, but it also cemented his status as a folk hero within the medical cannabis community.
At a time when few were willing to speak publicly about cannabis, Simpson’s name became synonymous with patient empowerment. He published his process openly, encouraged others to grow their own medicine, and helped shift global perceptions of cannabis from “drug” to “plant ally.”
The Science Catches Up
When Rick Simpson started sharing RSO, modern cannabis research was still in its infancy. But over the years, scientific understanding began to validate what he had discovered through experience. Researchers identified the endocannabinoid system (ECS)—a vast network of receptors in the human body that helps regulate everything from pain and sleep to mood and immunity.
Cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and CBN interact with this system, helping to restore balance when the body is under stress. By creating an extract that contained all these compounds together, Simpson had unknowingly captured the entourage effect—the synergy between cannabinoids and terpenes that makes full-spectrum cannabis so effective for many people.
Today, you’ll find variations of full-spectrum oil in dispensaries from California to Massachusetts. Each owes something to that original RSO concept: keep it whole, keep it potent, and let the plant do the work.
The Legacy Lives On
Rick Simpson himself has faced challenges, including health issues that have limited his public appearances in recent years. But the movement he sparked continues to thrive. Medical patients, caregivers, and licensed cannabis producers still credit him for inspiring the development of safer, more standardized extraction methods.
Even as technology advances—bringing cleaner solvents, CO₂ extractions, and carefully measured doses—the heart of RSO remains the same: an unrefined, full-bodied oil that represents the plant in its purest form. For many, it’s not just medicine; it’s a statement about self-reliance, empowerment, and the enduring power of cannabis.
The Modern RSO Experience
What started in a small Canadian kitchen now exists in regulated, lab-tested form across legal markets. Today’s RSO and full-spectrum tinctures are safer, more consistent, and available through licensed dispensaries rather than backroom exchanges.
We here at Beard Bros Pharms have helped bring this concept into the modern era—creating legal, precisely formulated RSO tinctures and dablicators that pay homage to the original without compromising quality or compliance. The result is access to the same whole-plant benefits, only now backed by testing, dosage guidance, and a dedication to consumer safety that Rick Simpson could only have dreamed of two decades ago.
A Legacy Rooted in the Plant
Rick Simpson Oil isn’t just a product. It’s a reminder that the cannabis movement began with ordinary people who refused to accept the limits placed on them. It’s about the connection between patient and plant, the courage to explore natural medicine, and the belief that healing should never be out of reach.
From Rick Simpson’s home experiments to today’s state-licensed dispensaries, RSO’s journey reflects the evolution of cannabis itself—from underground remedy to legitimate, life-changing medicine. The torch has passed, but the flame still burns bright.
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