One of the most powerful cannabis products ever created is what is commonly called Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), named after Rick Simpson who popularized and promoted the oil as a cure for Cancer and many other diseases. Phoenix Tears, Honey Oil, and Hash Oil are other names for this substance, which has been used for centuries to make medicine. The oil is made of pure cannabinoids, which are the medicine like THC and CBD that are stored in the trichomes of the marijuana plant. Cannabinoids are not water soluble, so in order to extract the medicine from the plant alcohol can be used. Soaking cannabis in alcohol and then evaporating the alcohol until only the essential medicinal oils remain produces RSO.
I like to use 99.9% isopropyl alcohol, but you can also use 190 proof spirits like ever clear. The quality of the cannabis used makes a big difference, so avoid using trim that has no trichomes or that hasn’t been properly dried. One trick I learned from Uncle Pete and the rest of the folks from the Seed 2 Cure organization, is that freezing the alcohol, the cannabis and all tools that you are using produces a more pure oil. By reducing the temperature, chlorophyll doesn’t seep into the alcohol. Once everything is cold enough, submerge the cannabis in the oil and agitate for about 5 minutes. Then strain the plant material out using a coffee filter or something that has a very fine mesh (20 microns or less). Repeat filtering until all planet material is removed.
Then the solution must be heated to cook off the alcohol. CAUTION: The Alcohol vapor is highly flammable. I typically use a rice cooker for the alcohol reduction and cook outside to prevent the build up of harmful and potentially explosive fumes. Just before all the alcohol is cooked off transfer the reduced solution into a thick stainless or glass cup and place on a low temp hot plate. While the last of the alcohol simmers off ad a few drops of water to make sure all the alcohol purges off. When the oil stops bubbling the oil is finished. If finished properly, the oil will have a golden color.
Dosing of cannabis oil ranges for different conditions. To treat cancer tumors, patients must consume between one half and one whole gram per day for 60 days. For autoimmune disorders, or to treat chronic pain, only 20-50 grams every 4-8 hours is needed. You cannot overdose, but RSO and cause sleepiness and disorientation until the patient gets acclimated.
For more info and instructional video check out Seed2cure.org and learn from the real experts in Michigan on the subject.
