What Is RSO? A Guide to Rick Simpson Oil at Bear’s Den Near Oka, QC

People ask “what is RSO” for all kinds of reasons. Some saw a syringe of black-green goo on a shop counter and wondered why anyone would buy it. Some heard a story from a relative. A few came across old forum posts that make big promises. This guide skips the hype and walks through what the product actually is, how it’s made, how strong it tends to be, and how the different formats compare, so you can make a calm, informed decision.

We’ll also be straight about the health claims, because RSO carries more of them than almost any other cannabis product. The short answer on those: they are not backed by solid clinical evidence, and nothing here is medical advice.

Where the name comes from

RSO is named after Rick Simpson, a Nova Scotia man who became known for making a homemade, concentrated cannabis oil and promoting it publicly. He shared his recipe and became well known for claims that the oil helped with serious illness. Those claims spread quickly online and still follow the product today.

Here’s the part that often gets lost. The name describes a style of extract, not a regulated standard. There is no official definition of “RSO” in Canadian regulations. When a label says RSO, it usually means a full-extract oil that keeps much of the plant’s material in the final product, instead of refining it down to a single isolated compound. Two products both called RSO can differ a lot in strength and in how carefully they were made.

So, what is RSO, exactly?

Think of RSO as a “whole-plant” concentrate. The goal of the original method was to capture as much of the cannabis plant’s resin as possible, including THC, some minor cannabinoids, and other plant compounds, and then concentrate it into a small volume of oil.

A few traits define it:

Texture: sticky, tar-like, and very dark. It usually comes in a plastic oral syringe because it’s too thick to pour.

Strength: typically dominated by THC, often at high concentrations. Some products also contain a smaller amount of CBD.

Use: meant to be swallowed, placed under the tongue, mixed into food, or taken in capsule form. It is not a vape or a smoke product.

Taste: bitter and grassy. Most people who use the syringe form put it on a cracker or into something with fat, like peanut butter, to mask the flavour.

That last point is more practical than it sounds. The strong taste is one reason capsules have become popular. They skip the flavour completely and make the amount far easier to control.

How RSO is made (and why you shouldn’t try it at home)

The classic method soaks cannabis in a solvent, strains out the plant material, and then heats the liquid gently to evaporate the solvent. What remains is the concentrated oil. The home recipes that circulated online used highly flammable solvents, and evaporating them indoors creates a real fire and explosion risk. Residual solvent left in a poorly made batch is also a concern.

Commercial producers use equipment designed to handle solvents safely and to purge them more completely. That’s one of the better arguments for buying a finished product rather than making your own. If you are ever unsure how a product was made, ask the staff where it comes from and whether they have information about testing. A good shop will tell you what it knows and will tell you plainly when it doesn’t know.

A quick word on “decarboxylation”

Raw cannabis contains mostly THCA, which is not intoxicating in its raw form. Heat converts THCA into THC through a process called decarboxylation. Because RSO is heated during production, most of its THCA has already been converted, which is why it’s active when swallowed without any further cooking. This is also why RSO behaves like an edible, not like raw plant material.

How strong is RSO?

Strong. That’s the honest one-word answer. Because RSO concentrates the resin of a large amount of plant material into a small volume, even a drop the size of a grain of rice can contain a meaningful amount of THC. How much exactly depends entirely on the specific product, which is why reading the label, or asking staff to read it with you, is step one.

For context on how Canada thinks about THC doses in food products, Health Canada’s rules for licensed edible cannabis cap THC at 10 mg per package. Many people who use RSO are working with amounts that could be much larger than that per serving, so treating it casually is a mistake. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction’s warning about edible overconsumption explains why ingested THC is so easy to overdo: the delay tricks people into taking more before the first dose has fully arrived.

Why the timing matters so much

When you inhale cannabis, THC reaches the bloodstream through the lungs within minutes. When you swallow it, the story changes. THC passes through the digestive system and the liver, where some of it is converted into a related compound, 11-hydroxy-THC. Health Canada notes that effects from eaten cannabis can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to begin and up to 4 hours to be fully felt, and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction adds that effects can last up to 12 hours, with residual effects lasting up to 24.

That long, slow curve is the single most important thing to understand about RSO. It explains nearly every bad experience people describe:

They took a dose, felt nothing after 40 minutes, and took more.

They took it late in the evening and felt it the next morning.

They took it on an empty stomach one day and with a heavy meal the next, and got very different results.

The fix is boring but effective: pick a very small amount, write down the time, and wait the full window before deciding anything. Health Canada’s practical guidance on lowering your risks with cannabis makes the same point about starting low and going slow, and it’s worth a read even if you’ve been using cannabis for years.

“With RSO we would much rather you take too little the first night than too much. You can always take a little more tomorrow. You cannot take back a dose that is already on its way.” the Bear’s Den team

Syringe, capsule, or infused product? Comparing RSO formats

At Bear’s Den, RSO shows up in a few forms. The format changes the experience more than most people expect, so here is how they compare.

Format	How it’s taken	Dose control	Taste	Example stocked at Bear’s Den
Oral syringe	Small drop on food or under the tongue	Harder; you are eyeballing a tiny amount	Strong, bitter	Boom Edibles RSO (700 mg THC, 20 mg CBD per label)
Capsules, lower strength	Swallowed like a pill	Easiest; each capsule is a fixed amount	None	Full-spectrum RSO capsules, 20 mg of RSO extract each, 25 per bottle (indica or sativa)
Capsules, higher strength	Swallowed like a pill	Fixed, but each unit is large	None	Full-spectrum RSO capsules, 100 mg of RSO extract each, 25 per bottle (indica or sativa)

Product names and strengths are taken from Bear’s Den’s own listings. Note that the capsule listings give milligrams of RSO extract, not milligrams of THC; the syringe listing gives THC and CBD. Stock changes, so confirm what’s on the shelf before you drive.

The syringe

The syringe is the traditional form. It gives you the most flexibility and the least precision. With a product like the Boom Edibles Rick Simpson Oil syringe, the label tells you the total THC in the whole syringe, not the amount in each drop. Working out a per-dose amount means dividing that total by the number of doses you could get from it, which is guesswork with a sticky oil. If you go this route, many people ask staff to show them what a small starting drop looks like.

Capsules

Capsules solve the two biggest problems with RSO: taste and measuring. Each capsule contains a set amount, so you always know what you took. For someone new to RSO, the smaller unit is the sensible starting point. The 20 mg full-spectrum indica RSO capsules hold 20 mg of RSO extract each, compared with 100 mg in the stronger bottles. Our listing does not state how much of that extract is THC, so ask us to read the bottle with you, and since RSO is usually THC-dominant, assume a large share of it may be. For context, the federal Cannabis Regulations cap each discrete unit of a licensed ingestible product, such as a capsule, at 10 mg of THC, and Health Canada suggests people new to edible products start at 2.5 mg of THC or less.

A 100 mg capsule holds five times the extract of the 20 mg one. That product exists for experienced consumers. If you’re new, there’s no reason to start there.

“Indica” and “sativa” RSO: does it matter?

You’ll notice that some RSO capsules are labelled indica or sativa. That labelling tells you what kind of plant the extract was reportedly made from. In practice, peer-reviewed studies have found that indica and sativa labels are a weak guide to a product’s genetics and chemistry, so they are not a reliable predictor of how a product will feel. With a heavy THC extract that you swallow, dose and timing will shape your experience far more than the indica or sativa label. Use the label as a loose hint, not a promise.

About the health claims

This is the section most RSO articles either skip or oversell, so let’s be direct.

RSO became famous because of claims that it could treat serious diseases, including cancer. Those claims come from personal stories, not from controlled clinical trials showing that RSO cures or treats illness. The U.S. National Cancer Institute’s patient summary on cannabis and cannabinoids states that the FDA has not approved cannabis or cannabinoids as a cancer treatment, and no regulator in Canada has approved RSO as a treatment for any condition. If you or someone you care about has a serious illness, please talk to a doctor or pharmacist, and please don’t stop or delay any prescribed treatment in favour of a cannabis product.

There’s also a practical safety issue for people who are unwell. High doses of THC can interact with other medications and can cause dizziness, confusion, a racing heart, or anxiety. Anyone who is older, takes other medication, or has heart or mental health concerns should get professional advice before trying a high-THC product.

We’re a cannabis retailer, not a clinic. Our role is to explain what a product is and how it’s labelled. We can’t tell you it will help with a health condition, and you should be wary of anyone who does.

A sensible first-time approach

If you’re an adult who has decided to try RSO, this is the approach most experienced consumers wish they had used the first time.

1. Choose a measured format. A low-strength capsule removes the guesswork.

2. Pick a quiet evening at home. No driving, no work obligations, no plans the next morning.

3. Eat a normal meal first, and keep it similar each time so you can compare results.

4. Note the time. Wait at least two hours before even considering more, and ideally wait until the next day.

5. Don’t mix it with alcohol. The combination is less predictable.

6. Store it locked away, out of reach of children and pets. A capsule or a dab of oil on a cracker can look like ordinary food.

That last point deserves more than a line. Accidental ingestion of cannabis edibles by children is a real and documented problem across Canada. Keep RSO in its original, labelled packaging and somewhere a child cannot reach.

If you take too much

Taking too much THC is usually not life-threatening for a healthy adult, but it can be deeply unpleasant. Common signs include a pounding heart, anxiety or panic, nausea, and feeling disoriented. Find a calm, safe place, sip water, and have someone you trust stay with you. The feeling passes as the THC wears off. If someone has chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, or can’t be woken, call 911 right away. If a child may have eaten cannabis, call Poison Control or 911 immediately.

RSO vs other concentrates: where it fits

RSO is part of a wider family of cannabis concentrates. Knowing how it relates to the others helps explain why it’s used differently.

Distillate is highly refined. Most other plant compounds are removed, leaving mostly THC. It’s clear or amber and often goes into vape cartridges and edibles.

Live resin is made from frozen fresh plants to keep more aromatic compounds. It’s mainly a vape and dab product.

Hash is made by collecting and pressing the plant’s resin glands, usually without solvents. It’s smoked or vaporized.

RSO keeps more of the whole plant’s material and is designed to be eaten.

That final distinction is the one that matters. RSO is an ingested product. People sometimes try to smoke or vape it, and it isn’t made for that.

The legal picture in Quebec

Quebec has its own framework for cannabis on top of the federal Cannabis Act. The province set the legal age at 21 and gave a Crown corporation, the SQDC, the exclusive right to sell cannabis in the provincial system. The Quebec government’s overview of the context and approach behind Quebec’s cannabis framework explains why the province chose a cautious, public-health-first model.

Bear’s Den operates on Sovereign Kanesatake Mohawk Territory near Oka, under our own asserted sovereignty position, which is distinct from Quebec’s provincial retail framework. We are not the SQDC, and we do not tell anyone that buying here is settled as legal under provincial law. Visibility is not legality: a shop being open tells you it is operating, not that the province agrees it is authorized. The rules that govern your own possession and use are the rules where you are, and Quebec’s minimum age of 21 is the one to keep in mind. Bring valid government-issued photo ID.

This matters for RSO in particular because many RSO products, including higher-strength capsules, exceed the per-unit THC limits that apply to licensed products. That’s one more reason to approach them carefully.

Is RSO available in Canada?

People often search for RSO oil in Canada or where to buy Rick Simpson Oil in Canada. Under the federal framework, an RSO-style oil is a cannabis extract. Health Canada explains that licensed extracts can contain up to 1,000 mg of THC per container, and licensed ingestible units such as capsules are capped at 10 mg of THC each. What a given provincial retailer carries is up to that retailer. We carry RSO under our own asserted sovereignty position, and we never tell anyone that buying it is legal where they live; the rules where you are apply to you.

Buying RSO at Bear’s Den

Bear’s Den has operated on Sovereign Kanesatake Mohawk Lands since 2018, on Rang Ste-Philomène a short drive from the village of Oka. You can shop in person at our counter, or call in an order and pick it up in store, and our team is used to walking first-timers through concentrates without judgment. The store is currently operating from a temporary space at the same address while the permanent building is finished.

Posted hours are 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM Monday through Saturday and 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM on Sunday. Because concentrate stock moves, the easiest move is to call (866) 306-2882 Ext. 2 and ask which RSO formats are in today. You can browse the full Bear’s Den menu before you come in.

If you’re coming in from the city and want a broader sense of how to shop a dispensary for the first time, the store’s buyer’s guide for Montreal-area shoppers covers the basics, from what to bring to how to ask about potency.

Questions worth asking at the counter

What is the total THC in this product, and roughly how much is in a single serving?

Is there a lower-strength option in the same format?

Do you have any information on where this product was made or how it was tested?

How do customers usually use this format?

You’re allowed to ask all of these. A good budtender will answer honestly, including “I don’t know” when that’s the truth.

Find Bear’s Den near Oka

1510B Rang Ste-Philomène, Kanesatake, QC J0N 1E0.

How to use RSO: a careful step-by-step

This is the question people search most after “what is RSO.” Here is the practical version, with the same caveat as everything else on this page: it is general information, not medical advice.

1. Read the label first. A syringe label gives the total THC in the whole syringe. Our capsule labels give the amount of RSO extract per capsule. Know which number you are looking at.

2. For capsules, swallow one with water, as you would any capsule, and do not take a second one the same day while you are learning how it affects you. Capsules are the easiest way to repeat the exact same amount next time.

3. For a syringe, warm it in your hand for a minute so the oil moves more easily, then push out the smallest amount you can manage onto a cracker or a spoonful of food with some fat in it. Dividing a syringe’s total by the number of tiny portions you could get from it is only an estimate, so err on the small side.

4. Write down the time and the amount. Eaten THC can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to begin and up to 4 hours to be fully felt.

5. Stay home and stay put. No driving, no alcohol, and nothing important planned for the next morning.

6. Adjust only on another day. If it was too little, step up slightly next time. If it was too much, step down.

The “best way” to use RSO is the one that lets you repeat a small, known amount. For most people that means capsules over a syringe.

Common myths about RSO

“It’s natural, so it’s gentle.” Being plant-based says nothing about strength. RSO is one of the most concentrated THC products you can buy.

“If I don’t feel it in half an hour, it didn’t work.” Ingested THC can take up to two hours to begin. Redosing early is the most common way people end up uncomfortable.

“All RSO is the same.” The name isn’t a regulated standard. Strength and production quality vary from product to product.

“It’s proven to treat disease.” It isn’t. Personal stories are not clinical evidence, and no Canadian regulator has approved RSO as a treatment.

“Capsules are weaker than the syringe.” Not necessarily. A 100 mg capsule can easily deliver more THC than a small drop from a syringe. The format controls convenience; the label controls strength.

Frequently asked questions

What does RSO stand for?

RSO stands for Rick Simpson Oil, named after the Nova Scotia man who popularized a homemade, full-extract cannabis oil. Today the term describes a style of thick, whole-plant extract that is usually high in THC and meant to be eaten.

Is RSO the same as CBD oil?

No. CBD oil is usually made to be high in CBD and low in THC, and it is often diluted in a carrier oil. RSO is typically dominated by THC and is much more concentrated. Always check the label; a small amount of CBD in an RSO product does not make it a CBD oil.

How long does RSO take to kick in?

Because it’s swallowed, RSO behaves like an edible. Health Canada says effects from eaten cannabis can begin anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion, and the CCSA notes they can last up to 12 hours. Wait the full window before taking more.

Does RSO make you high?

Usually, yes. Most RSO is dominated by THC, the intoxicating compound in cannabis, so it can cause a strong, long-lasting high, along with impaired coordination and reaction time. Products with more CBD and less THC may feel milder, so check the label. RSO is also not made for smoking or vaping; it is meant to be eaten or taken in capsules.

Does Bear’s Den sell RSO capsules?

Bear’s Den lists full-spectrum RSO capsules in 20 mg and 100 mg strengths, in indica and sativa versions, along with an RSO syringe. Stock changes, so call (866) 306-2882 Ext. 2 to confirm what’s available before you visit.

Does RSO cure cancer?

There is no reliable clinical evidence that RSO cures or treats cancer or any other disease, and it is not an approved treatment in Canada. Anyone dealing with a serious illness should speak with their doctor and should not replace prescribed care with a cannabis product.

About Bear’s Den Cannabis

Bear’s Den Cannabis is an Indigenous-women-owned dispensary established in 2018 on Sovereign Kanesatake Mohawk Territory, near Oka, Quebec, at 1510B Rang Ste-Philomene, Kanesatake, QC J0N 1E0. We built the shop around education first and no-pressure, fair pricing, and that matters most with a product as strong as RSO, where a good conversation at the counter is worth more than any label.

Our sovereignty positioning is our own asserted position, distinct from Quebec’s provincial government retail framework, and we are not the SQDC. You can read more about who we are and how we run the shop on our story and values page.

A quick disclaimer

This article is general information about a cannabis product. It is not medical advice, and it does not claim that RSO or any cannabis product diagnoses, treats, cures, or prevents any illness or condition. Talk to a licensed practitioner before using cannabis, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication, or have a heart, lung, or mental health condition.

Cannabis is for adults only, and Quebec’s minimum age is 21. Possession and use are governed by the rules where you are, which you are responsible for following. Never drive or operate machinery after consuming cannabis. Effects of ingested THC are delayed and long-lasting. Keep all products in original packaging and out of reach of children and pets. Availability and strengths change; details here reflect our listings at the time of writing and are not a guarantee of stock or effect.

The bottom line

What is RSO? It is a concentrated, whole-plant, high-THC extract that you swallow, which means it acts slowly, lasts for hours, and rewards patience far more than enthusiasm. Pick a measured format, start with the smallest amount, wait the full window, and ignore anyone promising it will cure what ails you. When you are ready, call our team at (866) 306-2882 Ext. 2 to check which RSO formats are on the shelf, or come see us in Kanesatake.