How to Buy RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) With Confidence

Here is how to buy RSO without guesswork. Compare total milligrams of THC, not just the percentage. Check the batch and lab details on the label, pick a type that suits your experience, and start with the smallest amount you can measure. RSO, short for Rick Simpson Oil, packs a lot of THC into a little oil, so a few minutes with the label pays off.

Why RSO shops differently from other concentrates

RSO is a cannabis extract made from the whole flower, with a thick, tar-like texture and a dark color. It is named for Rick Simpson, who popularized a homemade version. The RSO on licensed Michigan menus comes from licensed processors and carries the same required label information as every other cannabis product.

Three things set it apart when you shop:

• The syringe. RSO usually comes in a small plastic oral syringe, not a jar. Once you know what each marking holds, it is easy to measure small amounts.
• The potency. RSO is a concentrate, so even a small drop can carry a lot of THC.
• The way it's used. Most people swallow RSO or mix it into food instead of smoking it. That means edible timing: slow to start and long-lasting.

RSO also has a reputation that runs ahead of the research. If a health condition is what draws you to it, talk with your doctor first, especially if you take other medications. The National Cancer Institute says clinical trials of cannabis as a cancer treatment are limited, and it suggests talking through any such decision with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Our guide to what Rick Simpson Oil is and where it came from covers the background; this one is about choosing and buying.

How to buy RSO by reading potency: milligrams, percent and total cannabinoids

Percent tells you what share of the oil is THC. Milligrams tell you how much THC is actually in the package. You need both, because syringe sizes vary.

The math is simple. A gram is 1,000 milligrams, so multiply the syringe's weight by its THC percentage.

Those rows are worked examples, not a range you will always see. Use the numbers on the package in your hand.

Some labels also list total cannabinoids, the combined share of THC, CBD and minor cannabinoids such as CBG. It is a rough sign of how much of the oil is cannabinoids rather than other plant material like waxes and fats. A higher number is not automatically a better fit for you.

Watch for THCA as well. Raw cannabis holds most of its THC as THCA, which turns into THC when heated. If a label lists THCA separately, read it alongside THC so you know how much is already activated. Michigan labels also carry a statement that actual amounts may vary by 10%. For a line-by-line tour, see our guide to reading cannabis labels.

Serving guidance on the package, and what to do without it

Start with the package. Many RSO syringes have printed markings, and some packages suggest a serving. When there is guidance, follow it.

When there isn't, do a little math before you open it:

1. Find the total THC in milligrams by multiplying the weight by the percentage.
2. Count the equal markings on the syringe and divide the total by that number. Now you know roughly what one marking holds.
3. Start with less than one marking, the smallest amount you can measure, and wait for the full effect before deciding on more.

For perspective, Michigan caps adult-use capsules and oil drops at 10 mg of THC per dose, as of October 2026. On a 700 mg syringe with ten markings, a single marking holds about 70 mg. That gap is why careful measuring matters.

If you are a registered patient, your certifying physician is the right person to ask about amounts. Our patient guide to THC, CBD and product types is a good primer before that conversation.

Full-spectrum vs. strain-labeled RSO

Most RSO is sold as full-spectrum, meaning it is made from the whole flower and keeps a broad mix of cannabinoids and other plant compounds. How much of that mix survives depends on the starting material and the process. The heat used to remove the solvent can drive off some of the more delicate aroma compounds.

Strain-labeled RSO comes from a single named cultivar, and Michigan labels list the strain when one applies. A strain name gives you a starting point, but the cannabinoid numbers say more about strength.

Blended RSO combines more than one cultivar or batch. It isn't better or worse, just less tied to a single strain's profile.

Whatever the type, natural products vary. Two batches with the same name can test differently, so read each label instead of assuming it matches your last purchase.

Testing and traceability: batch, lab and dates

Every cannabis product sold in Michigan has to be sealed and labeled. Those labels give you plenty to work with:

• Producer name and license number, so you know who made it.
• Package tag, the tracking ID that ties the package to its batch.
• Harvest date, which tells you how old the starting material is.
• Strain, when the product comes from one.
• Net weight, plus THC and CBD amounts.
• Testing lab and test date, which show the batch went through state testing.
• The universal THC symbol and required warnings, including the Poison Control number.

High Society works with trusted vendors whose products have passed Michigan testing standards. If a line on the label doesn't make sense, our budtenders are glad to walk you through it.

Other ingredients in RSO capsules and infused products

Not all RSO comes in a syringe. You may also see capsules and other products made with RSO, and each adds ingredients worth checking:

• Carrier oils, such as MCT oil or olive oil, that thin the RSO so it can be measured into capsules.
• Capsule shells, which may be gelatin or plant-based. That matters if you avoid animal products.
• Sweeteners, flavors and other food ingredients in RSO gummies and similar edibles.

These formats come pre-measured, which takes the syringe math out of it. For adult-use shoppers, Michigan limits capsules, tinctures, oil drops and edibles such as gummies to 10 mg of THC per dose and 200 mg per package, as of October 2026. Medical products may carry more per dose.

Types of RSO you'll see on a menu

Ratio products such as 1:1 RSO list both cannabinoids, so you can see exactly what you are getting. The THC number is still the one to plan around.

Choosing by experience and syringe comfort

RSO is for adults 21 and older, or 18 and older with a Michigan medical marijuana card. Within that, match the format to your experience:

• New to eaten cannabis? Consider a pre-measured format first, such as a capsule or a low-dose edible. You will learn how eaten THC feels before you handle a syringe.
• Comfortable with edibles, new to RSO? A smaller syringe or a ratio product keeps the stakes lower while you learn to measure.
• Experienced with RSO? A THC-dominant syringe with clear markings gives you the most control.

Syringe comfort matters too. RSO is thick, especially when it's cool. Rolling the syringe between your palms for a minute warms it enough to push smoothly, and pushing slowly makes small amounts easier to control.

RSO selection varies by store and changes as batches come and go, so ask when you visit or call ahead. You will find all eight of our Michigan stores, from Big Rapids to New Buffalo, on our dispensary locations page.

First-time tips: tiny amounts, onset timing and storage

Eaten THC works on a delay. In controlled studies where adults ate THC brownies, effects took 30 to 60 minutes to appear, hit their peak around 1.5 to 3 hours and lasted six to eight hours. Expect RSO taken by mouth to follow a similar slow arc.

• Start with the smallest amount you can measure, on a day with nothing else planned.
• Give it a full two hours before you decide whether to take more.
• Skip alcohol and never drive. Every Michigan label spells it out: no driving while you're under the influence.
• Write down the amount, the time and how you felt, so the next time is easier.

Our THC dosage guide covers starting low in more detail.

Storage is simple but important. Keep the cap on, store the syringe somewhere cool and dark, and keep it away from heat such as a parked car. Lock it up, too. A study of U.S. poison center data found that edible cannabis exposures in children under 6 rose from 207 cases in 2017 to 3,054 in 2021. An RSO syringe can look like medicine to a child, so store it the way you would store medicine.

If someone takes RSO by accident, call the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222, the number printed on Michigan cannabis labels.