FSO vs. RSO: Is There a Difference?

When browsing cannabis concentrates on our Santa Cruz Naturals dispensary menu, you may notice the wide array of cannabis concentrates and oils available. 

Like the many other types of cannabis products, the options can seem overwhelming! 

There are various types of cannabis oil and concentrated products, including full spectrum oil (FSO), Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), and isolate or distillate. No matter the cannabis concentrate you choose, all products are extremely potent considering the condensed content of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds it includes.

RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) is one of these concentrates with a higher potency, arguably the most potent form of cannabis oil out there. On the other hand, FSO (Full-spectrum oil) contains a wide assortment of cannabinoids, terpenes, and compounds from the plant. Both forms of cannabis oil can be either consumed or infused in various ways while providing an array of therapeutic properties that have led both oils in being favored by consumers today. 

Learn everything to know about RSO vs. FSO, and how to choose the right oil for your cannabis wellness journey. 

What is FSO?

In a previous blog, we took a deep dive into the world of full-spectrum cannabis oil. While we discussed the extraction process of FSO and how it works within our bodies, it’s crucial to keep in mind that not every cannabis oil out there will benefit the same. 

Full-spectrum cannabis oil contains a full profile of cannabinoids and compounds derived from the plant. FSO is often favored for its full spectrum of benefits, which is why you will typically see it favored by medical marijuana patients. 

A theory deemed the Entourage Effect suggests that the influence of multiple different cannabinoids and terpenes when consumed, work harmoniously to produce a flurry of therapeutic benefits.  

Nowadays, FSO is a widely manufactured cannabis product that comes in different forms. While many specific companies and brands may have their proprietary method of manufacturing FSO products, the extraction method is generally as follows: 

• Once plant material has been selected, a solvent (such as ethanol, butane, propane, or supercritical CO2) is passed through the plant material and dissolves the excess plant matter and compounds. 

• This creates a thick, sticky, oil of condensed compounds that is then filtered to be removed from the solvent and leaves a dense cannabis concentrate oil as a result. 

FSO is an intensely pure, potent, and quality cannabis concentrate that has influenced therapeutic and medicinal benefits in users. What is the Difference Between FSO and Distillate?

What is RSO?

RSO stands for Rick Simpson Oil, a type of cannabis oil known for its intensely high concentration of cannabinoids and chemical compounds. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the few particular cannabinoids condensed in RSO that contributes to its potency. 

Typically, RSO is made by extracting specific cannabinoids from the cannabis plant using a solvent – such as ethanol or alcohol. The harvest plant material is soaked in the chemical solvent to dissolve and separate these cannabinoids from the plant matter. The separated cannabinoids are then strained and evaporated, resulting in thick, dark and sticky oil. 

While this process echoes similarly to the extraction process for FSO, RSO is different in that it is extracted at extremely higher temperatures. This means other delicate compounds such as terpenes and minor cannabinoids are burnt off in the process, leaving the THC and CBD cannabinoids to be extracted, collected, and concentrated. 

Compared to FSO, RSO simply contains these two major cannabinoids. Considering both oils are slightly composed of different cannabinoid concentrations, there are a few slight differences between consuming the two. Luckily, one man’s experimental discovery of RSO opened a whole new door of possibilities for cannabis oil. 

Who is Rick Simpson?

A Canadian cannabis activist, Rick Simpson was diagnosed with skin cancer back in 2003. 

When researching cancer treatment options, Rick read about a study from The National Cancer Institution that conducted a study of THC killing cancer cells in mice. With an FSO product handy, he was inspired to attempt a cancer treatment using cannabis oil. Rick applied the FSO oil directly to the affected sores of his skin cancer and covered it with a bandage. 

Several days later when he went to remove the bandage, he recognized the affected area had been almost completely cleared up.

After this discovery, he began extracting and remedying his cannabis oil as a form of cancer treatment. He began to create this cannabis oil extract for other friends and family he thought could benefit. 

Since then, this cannabis oil has been studied, inspected and replicated as a product that can alleviate and treat many of the varying symptoms of cancer. Along the way of this newfound discovery, this specific cannabis oil was named after Rick Simpson himself. 

Brands manufacture these potent RSO products and cutting-edge technology has allowed companies to further specify the forms of cannabinoids to be extracted.

How to Consume Both FSO vs RSO

Despite the slight variations in these cannabis oils, both FSO and RSO are relatively similar in how they are consumed and used.

Considering the thick and sticky consistency of both RSO and FSO, there are a few ways in which this type of cannabis concentrate can be consumed: 

• Cannabis syringes 

• Sprinkled into a joint, bowl, or blunt 

• Melted and infused into a beverage or food

• Dabbed with a dab rig or pen 

• Inhaled with vape cartridges 

The high content of THC in RSO makes it a powerfully potent cannabis product, commonly consumed orally for quick onset and delivery. After Rick Simpson’s experimental discovery, many cancer patients use RSO as part of their cancer treatment. 

Like other forms of cannabis, FSOs are a concentrated version of all cannabinoids and terpenes – making it commonly used by both recreational and medical patients for its long list of therapeutic and beneficial properties. 

No matter if you choose RSO or FSO, medical patients must speak to their doctor or healthcare provider before making any changes to their health and treatment regimen.

Shop Cannabis Oil & Concentrates at Santa Cruz Naturals Dispensary  

At our recreational cannabis dispensary, we’re proud to offer the latest and greatest cannabis products to the Santa Cruz community. Stop by either our Aptos or Watsonville dispensary location to browse our wide selection of potently pure cannabis concentrates. 

Whether you’re looking to elevate an adventurous activity or to alleviate symptoms of chronic illness, FSO and RSO are highly considerable options with a plethora of therapeutic and medical benefits. 

Stop by either of our Santa Cruz Naturals dispensary locations to chat with a herbal consultant about your cannabis oil products and options. 

Can’t make it to our dispensary in Aptos or Watsonville? No problem – our award-winning cannabis delivery service is available at our Watsonville dispensary each day from 10am-7pm and Aptos dispensary 12pm-7pm.