Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) in La Plata County: The Complete Guide by OilWell Cannabis

If you’re reading this in La Plata County, chances are you’re somewhere between Durango’s mountain-lined streets or tucked into the quieter corners of Bayfield, Ignacio, or the ranchlands stretching toward the New Mexico border. Maybe you’re a longtime resident who remembers when cannabis conversations happened in whispers, or you’re a newer arrival drawn by Colorado’s progressive laws and the promise of natural medicine. Either way, you’ve landed here because you’re searching for something real—something that cuts through the noise and gives you honest answers about Rick Simpson Oil.

We get it. Here in Southwest Colorado, we’re used to self-reliance. We grow our own food, fix our own trucks, and when the medical system falls short—which it too often does in rural communities like ours—we look for alternatives that actually work. That’s exactly how Rick Simpson Oil was born: not in a pharmaceutical lab, but in the kitchen of a working-class Canadian who got fed up with doctors telling him “no” when cannabis was the only thing that helped his pain after a workplace injury. That story resonates in La Plata County because we’ve seen the same pattern play out—friends, family, neighbors who’ve been failed by conventional medicine and found relief in places the system refuses to look.

But here’s what most RSO content won’t tell you: the original Rick Simpson Oil was crude, dangerous, and never clinically tested. The product most people call “RSO” today has almost nothing in common with what Simpson actually made. That’s not disrespect—that’s evolution. And that evolution is what we’re here to talk about.

We’re OilWell Cannabis, a Houston-based company that’s spent five years building something different. We don’t sell hype. We publish our exact formulas—every milligram, every percentage—so that if you can’t afford our product, you can make it yourself. We’ve been featured seven times by ABC13 Houston because we tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. And we’ve built an RSO formula that honors Simpson’s mission while fixing every problem his original method had: no solvents, no guesswork, no 600-milligram THC doses that’ll leave you too impaired to function, and no legal risk for La Plata County residents.

This guide is for you—whether you’re a cancer patient at Mercy Regional Medical Center, a veteran grappling with PTSD in Durango, a chronic pain sufferer in the San Juan Mountains who’s tired of opioids, or simply cannabis-curious and wanting to understand what RSO actually is. We’ll walk through the science, the law, the dosing, and most importantly, how to access this safely and legally in La Plata County. No fluff. No bullshit. Just what you need to know.

ABOUT RICK SIMPSON AND TRADITIONAL RICK SIMPSON OIL

Who is Rick Simpson

Rick Simpson was born in 1949 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was not a doctor, scientist, or medical professional—he was a power engineer and maintenance worker, a blue-collar tradesman whose path into cannabis advocacy began not with research but with personal suffering and a deep distrust of the medical system that failed him.

In 1997, while working at a hospital in Moncton, New Brunswick, Simpson fell from scaffolding and suffered a serious head injury. The aftermath included persistent tinnitus, dizziness, and post-concussion symptoms that conventional medicine couldn’t resolve. According to Simpson, the medications he was prescribed either failed to help or made his condition worse. He reported that cannabis provided more relief than anything his doctors offered, but when he asked his physician to support or prescribe cannabis, the request was refused .

For La Plata County residents who’ve dealt with workers’ comp injuries or post-concussion syndrome after a ski accident or construction fall, this story hits close to home. We’ve all known someone who was told their pain was “in their head” or handed a bottle of pills that made things worse. Simpson’s experience is universal—especially in mountain communities where workplace injuries are common and specialist care can be hours away.

Simpson’s interest in concentrated cannabis oil deepened after he learned about a 1974 study funded by the National Institute of Health and conducted at the Medical College of Virginia, in which THC was reported to slow or shrink tumors in mice. That study—originally intended to demonstrate harm—became a foundational reference point in Simpson’s later advocacy, even though its findings were never replicated in controlled human cancer trials .

The pivotal moment came in 2003. Simpson reported that three bumps on his arm were diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. Rather than pursuing conventional treatment, he applied concentrated cannabis oil directly to the lesions, covered them with bandages, and waited. According to his account, the bumps disappeared within four days. No independent medical verification of this outcome has been published, and no biopsy confirmation or clinical follow-up has been documented in any peer-reviewed source. Nevertheless, this personal experience became the origin story of Rick Simpson Oil .

Important context: Simpson’s account is presented here as his personal testimony. The absence of clinical documentation means these events cannot be evaluated as medical evidence. They are, however, historically significant as the catalyst for a global movement.

The crusade — spreading the oil

After his 2003 experience, Simpson committed himself to producing and distributing concentrated cannabis oil from his property in Maccan, Nova Scotia. He gave it away for free to cancer patients and others in his community, charging nothing. By his own account, he helped dozens of people with conditions including cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, infections, glaucoma, arthritis, depression, insomnia, and others .

Simpson’s story reached a global audience through the 2005 documentary Run From The Cure, directed by Christian Laurette. The film documented Simpson’s claims, showed testimonials, and framed his work as a grassroots challenge to pharmaceutical interests. It was distributed freely online and became foundational in cannabis communities—for many, it was their introduction to concentrated cannabis oil as medicine .

In La Plata County, where community word-of-mouth drives health decisions as much as doctor visits, this documentary likely reached people through online forums, cancer support groups, or friends who’d heard about it. The underground nature of early RSO distribution meant that if you wanted it, you had to know someone who knew someone—exactly how cannabis information still spreads in tight-knit rural communities.

Simpson’s advocacy brought him into direct conflict with Canadian law. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) raided his property in 2005 and again in 2009, charging him with cultivation, possession, and trafficking. Facing continued legal pressure, Simpson eventually left Canada for Europe, living in Croatia and later the Netherlands, where he continued his advocacy from abroad .

In 2012, Simpson published Phoenix Tears: The Rick Simpson Story, detailing his oil-making process and philosophical views . Throughout his public career, Simpson maintained that cannabis oil could cure cancer and many other diseases, and that pharmaceutical companies and government agencies were actively suppressing this knowledge .

Important context: Simpson’s conspiratorial framing is noted here without endorsement or dismissal. It reflects a worldview shared by many in the early cannabis movement and is relevant to understanding RSO’s cultural significance. The evidence-based assessment of his specific medical claims follows below.

The traditional RSO protocol — Simpson’s 60-gram, 90-day regimen

Simpson’s core treatment recommendation was structured to deliver 60 grams of concentrated cannabis oil over approximately 90 days. He considered this the minimum necessary for serious cancer treatment. Here’s the detailed breakdown :

Goal

Consume 60 grams of high-THC cannabis oil over roughly 90 days.

Titration schedule

• Week 1: Dose the size of half a grain of rice—roughly 10-15 mg—taken three times daily. Total daily intake: ~30-45 mg.
• Weeks 2-5: Double the dose every four days to build tolerance gradually. Target: 1 gram (1,000 mg) per day divided into three doses by week 5.
• Weeks 5-12: Maintain 1 gram per day until all 60 grams are consumed.

Administration methods

• Primary — oral/sublingual: Placed under tongue or swallowed for systemic absorption.
• Secondary — topical: Applied directly to skin lesions for external cancers.
• Not primary — inhalation: Acknowledged for immediate symptom relief but not for sustained treatment.

Tolerance and psychoactive effects

Simpson claimed patients develop THC tolerance within 3-4 weeks. He considered the high a temporary side effect and urged nighttime dosing initially. He warned against driving during titration and recommended informing family members .

Post-protocol maintenance

After completing 60 grams, Simpson recommended 1-2 grams per month indefinitely for long-term health and cancer prevention .

Important context for evaluating this protocol

This protocol was designed by one person based on personal experience. It was not developed through clinical trials or pharmacokinetic modeling. Critical points:

• No controlled trial validation. No published randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, or documented case series support this specific protocol .
• Crude, unstandardized material. The 60-gram quantity assumes a single-strain, THC-dominant extract with no standardized potency. Actual THC content varied widely .
• Very high THC exposure. At peak dosing (1 gram/day of 60-90% THC oil), patients consumed 600-900 mg of delta-9 THC daily—far exceeding anything studied clinically. For context, FDA-approved dronabinol is typically dosed at 2.5-20 mg/day .
• Real risks at these doses. Consuming 600-900 mg of THC daily carries serious risks: severe intoxication, anxiety, panic, tachycardia, hypotension, and cannabis use disorder . These risks are well-documented in the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section [1][13].
• Oncology context. Patients with active cancer are medically complex. Using unregulated cannabis oil as a primary treatment—potentially in place of proven therapies—introduces harm beyond the oil itself . In La Plata County, where oncologists at Mercy Regional Medical Center and Animas Surgical Hospital provide evidence-based cancer care, RSO should never replace conventional treatment.

What is traditional Rick Simpson Oil — the product

Traditional RSO refers to the specific oil Simpson made, defined by his method and materials, not by lab specifications :

Source material: High-THC indica strains, no strain standardization. Whatever he grew or sourced—that was the batch.

Extraction solvent: Naphtha (petroleum-based lighter fluid) or 99% isopropyl alcohol. Neither is food-grade. Naphtha may contain benzene, toluene, and other carcinogens. Incomplete purging leaves harmful residues .

Extraction process: Cannabis soaked in solvent, filtered, then evaporated in a rice cooker at 60-80°C. This heat decarboxylated all THCa to THC and destroyed most terpenes .

Appearance: Nearly black, thick, tar-like, sticky oil with strong cannabis and possible solvent-residual odor .

Cannabinoid profile: 60-90% delta-9 THC, unmeasured, unverified. Minor cannabinoids present at natural ratios but not controlled .

Terpene content: Minimal to none. Solvent + heat destroyed them .

Standardization and testing: None. Every batch different. No Certificate of Analysis (COA), no cannabinoid quantification, no contaminant screening .

Residual solvent risk: Significant. Traditional RSO could not meet modern testing standards .

Simpson’s claims vs. the evidence record

Simpson claimed RSO could cure cancer and many other diseases. He was adamant and consistent throughout his advocacy career . Let’s evaluate these claims against actual evidence using the same standards we apply throughout this document.

What Simpson was not

Simpson was not a scientist, physician, pharmacologist, or researcher. He had no formal training in medicine or clinical research methodology. He never designed, conducted, funded, or published a clinical trial. He never submitted results to peer review. His evidence base consisted entirely of personal experience, self-reported patient outcomes, and informal testimonials—no controls, no independent verification, no imaging confirmation, no long-term follow-up, no blinding .

What the preclinical literature shows

The preclinical cannabinoid-cancer literature exists and is scientifically interesting:

• In vitro studies show THC and CBD can induce apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, and reduce angiogenesis in certain cancer cell lines .
• Animal models show some tumor-growth inhibition in mice and rats .
• These findings generate legitimate scientific interest and ongoing research.

What the preclinical literature does NOT show

• These findings have not translated into proven human cancer cures. The gap between in vitro/animal results and human clinical outcomes is vast and well-documented across oncology research .
• No human clinical trial has demonstrated that RSO or any cannabis oil preparation cures cancer .
• Small human trials of cannabinoids in cancer contexts (particularly glioblastoma) have been exploratory and have not produced results supporting cancer-cure claims .

Institutional positions

• U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI): Acknowledges cannabinoids have been studied for potential anticancer effects in lab and animal models but does not endorse cannabis or cannabis oil as a cancer treatment .
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Has not approved any cannabis plant product for cancer treatment. Only FDA-approved cannabinoid products are Epidiolex (CBD) for certain seizure disorders and dronabinol/nabilone (synthetic THC analogues) for chemotherapy-related nausea and AIDS-related wasting .
• Health Canada: Has never approved RSO or cannabis oil as a cancer cure .
• NCCIH: States the strongest cannabinoid evidence is for rare epilepsies, chemotherapy-related nausea/vomiting, and HIV/AIDS appetite/weight loss—not cancer cure .

What Simpson got right

Simpson drew attention to cannabinoids as a serious biomedical research area when the world was ignoring it. His advocacy helped create the political, cultural, and social conditions for the legal cannabis industry and cannabinoid research infrastructure that exists today. He was among the first to bring concentrated cannabis oil to widespread public awareness, and the term RSO remains the most recognized name for full-spectrum cannabis extract .

What he overstated

The leap from preclinical signals to cancer cure was not supported by human evidence when Simpson made it, and it is not supported now. Encouraging cancer patients—particularly in treatable cases—to rely on RSO as a primary treatment in place of proven oncologic therapies carries genuine harm potential. Delayed or foregone treatment for treatable cancers is a documented concern in alternative medicine . In La Plata County, where residents have access to skilled oncologists at Mercy Regional Medical Center and Animas Surgical Hospital, RSO should never replace proven treatment.

The legacy of Rick Simpson and the evolution of modern RSO

The term RSO is now used broadly across the legal cannabis industry, often loosely. Many products labeled RSO bear little resemblance to what Simpson originally made. The term has become generic .

Simpson himself has been critical of commercial products using the RSO name while departing from his method. He believed in a DIY, free-access model where anyone could grow cannabis, extract oil, and treat themselves without corporate intermediaries. The modern industry has commercialized, standardized, and regulated what he distributed for free .

Whether that evolution represents improvement (quality control, lab testing, dosing precision) or betrayal (profit extraction, regulatory gatekeeping) depends on perspective. OilWell occupies a rare middle ground: we sell a professionally manufactured, lab-tested product and publish the complete recipe, echoing Simpson’s ethos while solving his method’s problems.

Traditional RSO vs. modern formulated RSO

Dimension	Traditional RSO	OilWell Formulated RSO
Source material	Single high-THC indica strain	Multi-cannabinoid blend from multiple sources
Extraction method	Naphtha or isopropyl alcohol	Food-grade ethanol or CO₂ methods
Cannabinoid profile	THC-dominant, uncontrolled	Seven defined cannabinoids at specific ratios
Terpene content	Destroyed by high heat	Live terpenes at 5% with defined profile
Standardization	None—every batch different	Lab-tested with specific mg/mL targets
Lab testing	Not performed	Full panel: potency, terpenes, pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, microbes
Residual solvents	Significant risk with naphtha	Controlled and tested
Dosing precision	Approximate, syringe-based	Measured per mL (553 mg/mL) with 0.1 mL increments
Product formats	Single thick oil only	Sublingual oil and vape cartridge with format-specific formulas
THCa preservation	No—fully decarboxylated	Yes—1,500 mg THCa as separate ingredient
Delta-9 THC dominance	60-90% delta-9 THC	Only 90 mg delta-9 THC (3 mg/mL)
Evidence approach	Anecdotal, personal testimony	Research-backed, evidence-weighted
Accessibility	Black market only	Nationwide shipping, no medical card required

Why OilWell’s formulas diverge from traditional RSO

Our formulas are not traditional RSO. They are informed by the tradition but depart deliberately:

1. Multi-cannabinoid approach. Traditional RSO used whatever single strain was available. Our formulas include seven cannabinoids—CBD, CBG, delta-8 THC, THCa, delta-9 THC, CBN, and CBC—because the entourage-effect literature suggests benefit from diversity, even though robust clinical proof of whole-formula synergy remains limited [20][29].

2. Terpene preservation. Traditional RSO had no terpenes due to solvent/heat destruction. We include live terpenes at 5% with a specific seven-terpene profile—limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene—because terpene bioactivity is plausible and supported preclinically, even if human confirmation is still developing [20][21][23][24][25][26][27][28][29].

3. THCa as separate ingredient. Traditional RSO fully decarboxylated everything. Our sublingual formula includes 1,500 mg THCa, preserving the acidic precursor because the THCa literature suggests potentially relevant non-psychoactive bioactivity lost during conversion [12].

4. Reduced delta-9 THC dominance. Traditional RSO was 60-90% delta-9 THC. Our formula uses only 90 mg delta-9 THC while distributing the remaining content across CBD (4,500 mg), CBG (3,000 mg), delta-8 THC (6,000 mg), CBN (750 mg), and CBC (750 mg), reflecting broader cannabinoid research rather than single-compound dominance.

5. Product format innovation. Simpson envisioned only oral oil from a syringe. We offer both a 30 mL sublingual oil and a 1-gram vape cartridge, each with format-specific formulation acknowledging different pharmacokinetic profiles [14].

ABOUT OILWELL CANNABIS AND OUR RSO FORMULA

The origin of OilWell Cannabis

OilWell Cannabis was founded by Colin Valencia in Houston, Texas. But our story doesn’t start in a corporate boardroom—it starts in McAllen, Texas, one of the most economically challenged and dangerous border regions in America. The McAllen-Reynosa area, known as the Borderplex, is defined by poverty, cartel violence, and limited opportunity. Colin grew up there, learning early to hustle and survive. By sixteen, he’d left home for good after watching friends killed or imprisoned.

Despite the dangers, Colin chose cannabis over darker paths. He grew up in the traditional cannabis world pre-legalization, learning the plant intimately. Over time, he transitioned from those risky ventures to creating a legal business built on integrity. He later became a formally trained software engineer and did custom development for Baylor College of Medicine—one of the most prestigious institutions in the Texas Medical Center. That combination—deep cannabis plant knowledge plus medical-grade technical precision—defines our approach.

Our company’s origin story begins with a dog named Bentley. Bentley was more than a pet—he was family, the companion who stood by Colin through the toughest times. When Bentley fell seriously ill, veterinarians delivered the verdict no owner wants: euthanasia was the only humane option. Bentley was paralyzed in his back legs. Pain medications would destroy his organs. The choice was prolonged suffering or immediate mercy.

But giving up wasn’t an option. In a desperate search for alternatives, a rescue worker named Jessica asked Colin: “You’ve moved how many tons of weed and you’ve never heard of CBD?” That question exposed a blind spot that became a mission.

Colin learned to create CBD golden paste—a specialized cannabinoid formula for pets. It wasn’t a cure, but it was hope. And that hope delivered the impossible: Bentley got up, walked over, and brought Colin his ball to play. From paralyzed and facing euthanasia to fetching his ball. Dogs don’t respond to placebo—this was cannabinoid medicine doing what pharmaceuticals could not.

Bentley lived another ten years, passing naturally at age twenty. During those years, Colin developed formulas for every age-related condition Bentley faced. Neurodegeneration led him to CBG’s neuroprotective properties and THCa’s PPARγ agonism for brain cell protection. Dementia led him to CBC’s role in neurogenesis. Glaucoma led him to THC’s CB1 agonism for intraocular pressure. Crippling arthritis led him to multi-pathway anti-inflammatory approaches using CBD, CBG, THCa, and beta-caryophyllene working through different receptor systems simultaneously.

Single cannabinoids were not enough. Bentley’s evolving conditions required multi-cannabinoid synergy. Pharmaceutical precision mattered—Bentley’s life depended on formula accuracy, not guesswork. That decade of real-world formulation testing on a patient he loved more than anything became the foundation of our RSO formula.

Colin also knows pharmaceutical dependence personally. He struggled with PTSD and benzodiazepine addiction. When he quit Xanax cold turkey—a notoriously difficult and dangerous feat—he used the cannabinoid knowledge he’d developed keeping Bentley alive. Our Peace Gummies formula was created during midnight experiments while fighting through benzo withdrawal. To ensure quick relief, we also offer Peace Gummies in vape form, which Colin personally uses to manage his insomnia and severe PTSD. This is not theoretical knowledge. Colin lived what RSO patients live: desperation for relief, failed pharmaceuticals, the discovery that cannabinoids work when pills do not.

Over time, the therapeutic benefits Colin discovered through Bentley became our core work. We’ve developed formulas that doctors use for Crohn’s disease, IBS, ulcerative colitis, PTSD, benzo addiction, and insomnia. Our focus has always been making cannabis accessible for everyone—vegans, diabetics, those with specific health needs.

ABC13 KTRK Houston—Houston’s number-one news source—featured us in seven comprehensive news segments from 2019 to 2023, covering Texas marijuana law, Delta-8 legal analysis, COVID-19 community health leadership, criminal justice reform, and cannabis business pioneering. Colin was repeatedly selected as the primary industry expert for cannabis policy and product coverage in America’s fourth-largest city.

Today, we operate from Montrose, Houston (810 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77006). We’ve been operating since 2019, generate approximately one million dollars in annual revenue, maintain a near-5.0 Google rating, and are Texas DSHS licensed. Our products are not mass-produced—they’re carefully crafted with a personal touch, from the artwork on the packaging to the formulations inside. All artwork, formulations, and packaging are created in-house in Houston, using only our own recipes and ideas. Colin brings Houston grit, McAllen roots, and a builder’s mindset, but our posture stays simple: make products with intent, answer directly, and never pretend cannabis is right for everyone.

The OilWell RSO philosophy

Our RSO is not traditional RSO. It is a formulated, multi-cannabinoid product informed by the RSO tradition but departing from it in ways that are deliberate, evidence-motivated, and designed to solve the problems that limited Rick Simpson’s original vision.

Four core principles define our approach:

1. Accessibility over gatekeeping. No medical card is required. Anyone age 21+ can purchase. We ship nationwide across the United States and internationally to customers who verify local legality. Simpson believed medicine should be accessible to everyone; we built a product and distribution model that makes that accessible legally—including here in La Plata County.

2. Patient-controlled potency. THCa is sold in its acidic, non-psychoactive form. You decide whether to use it raw for non-psychoactive benefits or decarboxylate it into delta-9 THC for full psychoactive potency. Simpson believed patients should control their medicine; we engineered a product that puts that control in your hands through chemistry rather than rhetoric.

3. Open-source formulas. We publish our complete formulas publicly—every cannabinoid, every milligram amount—so that anyone who cannot afford our product can source ingredients and make their own version. Simpson gave his oil away for free and taught people how to make it; we adapted that ethos for the modern marketplace by selling a professionally manufactured product and publishing the recipe.

4. Evidence-informed, not evidence-overstating. The GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section in this document represents our commitment to honest education about what the science actually says. Simpson operated without access to peer-reviewed literature; we have that access and use it to distinguish what is well-supported, what is emerging, and what is overstated.

Farm Bill compliance and the THCa legal framework

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived products containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight at the federal level. This framework is the foundation of our RSO product design.

Our RSO Sublingual Oil contains only 90 milligrams of delta-9 THC in the entire 30 mL bottle—3 milligrams per milliliter—well under the 0.3% threshold. All cannabinoids are hemp-derived. The product is legal under federal law and in Colorado.

THCa—tetrahydrocannabinolic acid—is the acidic, non-psychoactive precursor to delta-9 THC. It is not itself delta-9 THC. This distinction is legally significant: THCa is Farm Bill compliant at point of sale because it has not been converted to delta-9 THC.

The practical significance is substantial. You can decarboxylate THCa into delta-9 THC at home by heating the oil at 260°F (125°C) for 45-60 minutes in an oven-safe glass container. This converts 1,500 milligrams of THCa into approximately 1,315 milligrams of delta-9 THC. Combined with the existing 90 milligrams of delta-9 THC, this yields approximately 1,405 milligrams of total delta-9 THC—giving the product psychoactive potency comparable to traditional illegal RSO, entirely at your discretion after purchase.

This means the same product can function as a non-psychoactive anti-inflammatory (used raw) or as a full-potency psychoactive product (after home decarboxylation). You control the decision. The product is legal everywhere all component cannabinoids are legal, which enables us to ship to La Plata County under Colorado’s hemp laws.

Important legal notice: THCa converts to delta-9 THC when heated. You are responsible for understanding and complying with Colorado and La Plata County laws regarding cannabinoid products. We ship with full documentation, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and receipts. International customers accept all customs and legal risk.

Colorado law is clear: hemp-derived products with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC are legal. La Plata County follows state law, so our products are legal to purchase, possess, and use here. However, if you choose to decarboxylate the product at home, you are creating a substance that may exceed legal THC limits for possession. Use discretion and understand your local regulations.

Open-source formulas — why we publish everything

We publish our complete RSO formulas publicly—every cannabinoid, every milligram amount, every percentage—so that anyone who cannot afford our product can source ingredients and make their own version. The formulas in the RSO Sublingual Oil and RSO Vape Cartridge sections of this document are the open-source recipes.

This is a direct echo of Rick Simpson’s original ethos. Simpson gave his oil away for free and taught people how to make it. He never patented his method. We adapted that ethos for the modern cannabinoid marketplace: we sell a professionally manufactured, lab-tested, standardized product for those who want it, and we publish the complete recipe for those who want to make it themselves.

As Colin said on ABC13 in 2019: “I’m not trying to sell people snake oil. I’m not trying to sell people hope. But there’s enough research out there that people just need to know and try and have the best possible version to base their opinions off of to give it a fair shot as to whether it’s right or wrong for them.”

The open-source philosophy didn’t start with RSO—it started with Bentley. On our About Us page, Colin published the actual CBD golden paste recipe that saved Bentley’s life, so any pet owner facing a similar crisis could make it themselves:

CBD golden paste recipe for pets — the original open-source formula

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup organic turmeric powder
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (unrefined, organic)
• 1-2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper (important for absorption)
• CBD oil (dosage depends on pet size; consult a veterinarian)

Instructions:

1. Mix turmeric and water in a saucepan over low heat, stirring continuously until thick paste forms (7-10 minutes). Add water if too thick.
2. Add coconut oil and pepper. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
3. Cool and store in a jar with lid. Refrigerate up to two weeks.
4. Add CBD oil before serving, adjusting dosage based on weight and health needs. Start low and increase gradually.

Serving suggestion: Mix small amount with pet’s food once or twice daily. Monitor for changes and consult a veterinarian if concerns arise. Always consult a vet before starting new supplements.

This recipe—published for free, years before our RSO formulas—demonstrates that the open-source pattern is consistent. Colin gave away the formula that saved Bentley before he gave away the formula for people. The open-source ethos is not a marketing strategy; it’s the foundational behavior of our company.

The decarboxylation choice — patient-controlled potency

Traditional RSO was always fully decarboxylated. The heat of solvent evaporation converted all THCa to THC, leaving patients with no choice about psychoactivity—the oil was always psychoactive.

Our sublingual formula contains 1,500 milligrams of THCa in its acidic, non-psychoactive form. This creates three distinct usage options:

Option 1 — Raw, no heat: All 1,500 mg stays as THCa—completely non-psychoactive. The THCa evidence profile describes potential anti-inflammatory activity via COX-2 inhibition and neuroprotective potential via PPARγ agonism [12]. This option is compatible with work, driving, and daytime use with zero psychoactive impairment—essential for La Plata County residents who need to function while managing chronic conditions.

Option 2 — Fully activated, home decarboxylation: Heating oil at 260°F (125°C) for 45-60 minutes converts 1,500 mg THCa to ~1,315 mg delta-9 THC. Combined with existing 90 mg delta-9 THC, this yields ~1,405 mg total delta-9 THC—psychoactive potency comparable to traditional illegal RSO, 100% legally. You can also decarboxylate only a portion in a separate container, preserving the remainder raw.

Option 3 — Vape, auto-decarboxylation: Our RSO Vape Cartridge vaporizes at 400-450°F, instantly converting THCa to delta-9 THC with each inhalation. Every puff delivers freshly decarboxylated cannabinoids—fastest-onset RSO delivery available.

Conversion chemistry: THCa has molecular weight of 358.47 g/mol. The conversion ratio is approximately 1 mg THCa = 0.877 mg delta-9 THC after decarboxylation, reflecting loss of a CO₂ molecule.

This design puts potency control entirely in your hands—aligning with Rick Simpson’s principle that patients should control their medicine, but implementing it through actual product chemistry rather than rhetoric.

Solvent-free production

Our RSO is not a traditional extraction product. It is a formulated blend of individual cannabinoid distillates and isolates combined at specific ratios in a controlled environment. No naphtha. No isopropyl alcohol. No butane. No extraction solvents are present in the finished product.

This eliminates the residual solvent risk that is one of the most significant safety concerns with traditional RSO production, as discussed in the Rick Simpson section.

We use organic MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides) as the carrier base. MCT oil is a food-grade lipid that facilitates sublingual absorption and provides a neutral taste profile—a significant improvement over the tar-like consistency and solvent-residual odor of traditional RSO.

Third-party lab testing covers cannabinoid potency, terpene profile, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial contaminants. Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are available on request and through our website.

The broader OilWell product portfolio

Beyond RSO, we produce:

Asshole Peach — our most popular product. These peach gummy rings contain 268 mg total cannabinoids per piece (28 mg delta-9 THC, 50 mg delta-8 THC, 20 mg delta-10 THC, 20 mg THCo, 100 mg CBD, 50 mg CBG). Particularly favored by veterans for PTSD and pain relief.

Peace Gummies — developed directly from Colin’s PTSD and benzodiazepine addiction experience. These helped him quit Xanax cold turkey. The formula is also available in vape form for quick relief—Colin personally uses it to manage his insomnia and severe PTSD.

Custom creations — we design tailored products on request for specific cannabinoid ratios, delivery formats, or health circumstances, including formulations for vegans, diabetics, and those with specific dietary needs.

Two product formats

We offer the RSO formula in two delivery formats, each designed for different use cases:

RSO Sublingual Oil — $129.99

• 30 mL bottle (1 fl oz)
• 16,590 mg total cannabinoids (553 mg per mL)
• Seven cannabinoids: CBD 4,500 mg, CBG 3,000 mg, delta-8 THC 6,000 mg, THCa 1,500 mg, delta-9 THC 90 mg, CBN 750 mg, CBC 750 mg
• Live terpenes at 5%: limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene
• Organic MCT oil base
• Graduated dropper for precise 0.1 mL dosing
• Onset: 15-45 minutes (sublingual absorption)
• Peak: 1-2 hours
• Duration: 4-6 hours
• Bioavailability: 13-19%
• Approximately 40-60 doses per bottle

RSO Vape Cartridge — $49.99

• 1-gram cartridge
• 900+ mg total cannabinoids
• Same six-cannabinoid ratio as sublingual (delta-9 THC not listed separately because THCa auto-decarbs at vaping temperature)
• Live terpenes at 5%+
• 510-thread universal battery compatibility
• Onset: 1-2 minutes (fastest delivery)
• Peak: 10-15 minutes
• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Bioavailability: 10-35%
• Automatic THCa decarboxylation at 400-450°F

When to use each format

Use case	Recommended format	Rationale
Fast relief (acute pain, nausea, panic)	Vape	1-2 minute onset, ideal for breakthrough symptoms
Sustained relief (chronic pain, sleep)	Sublingual	4-6 hour duration provides lasting coverage
Maximum bioavailability	Sublingual	13-19% absorption, partial bypass of first-pass metabolism
Portability/discretion	Vape	Compact, no measuring, fits in pocket for on-the-go use
Precise dosing control	Sublingual	Graduated dropper allows 0.1 mL increments
Daytime non-psychoactive use	Sublingual (raw)	THCa stays inactive, zero impairment for work/driving
Nighttime psychoactive use	Sublingual (decarbed) or Vape	Activated THCa + delta-8 THC for therapeutic potency

For La Plata County residents who work outdoors, ski patrol, or have active jobs, the raw sublingual option allows you to manage inflammation and pain during the day without impairment. The vape cartridge fits easily in a pack for quick relief on a hike or after a long shift.

Competitive comparison — OilWell RSO vs. alternatives

OilWell RSO vs. Colorado dispensary RSO (e.g., Native Roots, LivWell)

Dimension	Colorado dispensary RSO	OilWell RSO
Cannabinoid profile	THC-only (often 500-800 mg THC per gram)	7 cannabinoids: CBD, CBG, delta-8 THC, THCa, delta-9 THC, CBN, CBC
CBG content	0 mg	3,000 mg
CBN content	0 mg	750 mg
CBC content	0 mg	750 mg
Patient-controlled potency	No—always fully psychoactive	Yes—THCa non-psychoactive until heated
Access requirements	Colorado medical card or recreational purchase (21+)	Age 21+ only, no medical card required
Delivery	Drive to Durango, Pagosa Springs, or Cortez dispensary	Shipped directly to your La Plata County address
Price point	$40-80 per gram (tax included)	$129.99 for 16,590 mg total cannabinoids (30 mL)

OilWell RSO vs. hemp CBD RSO (e.g., Charlotte’s Web, Lazarus Naturals)

Dimension	Lazarus Naturals RSO (10 mL, 1,000 mg)	OilWell RSO (30 mL, 16,590 mg)
Total cannabinoids	1,000 mg	16,590 mg
CBD content	~950 mg	4,500 mg
CBG content	15.5 mg	3,000 mg
CBN content	0.7 mg	750 mg
Delta-8 THC	0 mg	6,000 mg
THCa (convertible to delta-9)	Minimal	1,500 mg (converts to ~1,315 mg delta-9 THC)
Psychoactive option	No meaningful psychoactive effect	Yes—via THCa decarboxylation and delta-8 THC
Price	$40-50	$129.99

For La Plata County residents comparing options, the math is clear: traditional Colorado dispensary RSO offers high THC but nothing else. Hemp CBD RSO offers minimal total cannabinoids. OilWell delivers 16,590 mg across seven compounds with patient-controlled psychoactivity—making it the most versatile and scientifically sophisticated option available to you, delivered directly without a dispensary visit.

Condition-specific usage context for La Plata County

Important disclaimer: The following contexts are informed by cannabinoid research cited in our GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section and our formulation rationale. They are not medical prescriptions, not FDA-approved treatment protocols, and not a substitute for professional medical care. These products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using cannabinoid products, especially if you have a medical condition, are taking medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have health concerns. Do not operate vehicles or machinery while under the influence of psychoactive cannabinoids.

For La Plata County residents, we recommend discussing any cannabinoid use with providers at Mercy Regional Medical Center, Animas Surgical Hospital, or your primary care physician. Integrative medicine practitioners in Durango may also provide guidance on incorporating cannabinoids into your care plan.

Chemotherapy-related nausea and appetite support

• Pre-chemo: 0.5-1.0 mL sublingual approximately 1 hour before treatment
• Acute breakthrough nausea: 2-3 vape puffs for immediate relief (1-2 minute onset)
• Post-chemo: 0.5 mL sublingual every 6 hours as needed
• Sleep support during treatment: 1.0-2.0 mL sublingual before bed (delivers 25-50 mg CBN)
• Evidence context: delta-8 THC antiemetic evidence [9], delta-9 THC nausea evidence [1][13], CBD anxiolytic buffering [3]

Chronic pain (fibromyalgia, arthritis after years of skiing, neuropathy)

• Daytime: 0.3-0.5 mL raw sublingual—anti-inflammatory cannabinoid exposure without psychoactive impairment for those working outdoors or driving mountain roads
• Nighttime: 0.5-1.0 mL decarboxylated sublingual—combines pain relief with CBN sleep support
• Breakthrough pain: Vape as needed for rapid onset after long hikes or physical labor
• Evidence context: CBD pain evidence [4], delta-9 THC pain evidence [13], beta-caryophyllene CB2 agonism [24], THCa COX-2 inhibition [12]

Sleep support

• Before bed: 1.0-2.0 mL sublingual
• At 2.0 mL, this delivers 50 mg CBN—the dosage level investigated in 2024 sleep literature
• At 1.0 mL, this delivers 25 mg CBN—above the 20 mg threshold associated with reduced sleep disturbance in published research [16][17]
• Evidence context: CBN sleep evidence [16][17], cannabis and sleep review literature

Anxiety and stress (including PTSD common among La Plata County veterans)

• Daytime functional relief: 0.3 mL raw sublingual—CBD and CBG address anxiety pathways without psychoactive impairment
• Nighttime: 1.0 mL sublingual—full cannabinoid profile including CBN for sleep architecture
• Evidence context: CBD anxiety evidence [3], CBG pharmacology [7][8], limonene entourage-effect evidence [20]

General titration principle: Start low, go slow. Begin with 0.25-0.5 mL sublingual and assess effects over 2-3 hours before increasing. Individual responses vary based on body weight, metabolism, tolerance, concurrent medications, and other factors. La Plata County’s higher altitude can affect metabolism and hydration—adjust accordingly.

Delivery and global accessibility for La Plata County

We operate the only same-day RSO delivery system in Houston. For La Plata County residents, we offer nationwide shipping that brings our products directly to your doorstep—whether you’re in Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, or off a dirt road near the New Mexico border.

Nationwide shipping to La Plata County

• All 50 states where Farm Bill-compliant products are legal (Colorado qualifies)
• USPS Priority Mail (2-3 business days), FedEx and UPS Ground (3-5 business days)
• Discreet packaging with no cannabis branding visible
• Tracking provided for all orders
• Temperature-stable packaging for summer shipments—crucial for Southwest Colorado’s temperature swings
• Signature-required option available

International shipping
We ship internationally and have delivered to multiple countries across continents. The THCa legal framework makes this possible: because the product contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC at point of sale, it meets the definition of a hemp-derived product under the 2018 Farm Bill and is shippable to jurisdictions with compatible hemp laws.

All international packages include full documentation, Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and receipts for customs. Customers accept all customs and legal responsibility. Minimum flat-fee shipping applies; excessive costs are billed to customer.

The significance for La Plata County

Rick Simpson could not ship his oil anywhere—it was Schedule I, illegal to produce, possess, or transport. A cancer patient in Durango, a chronic pain sufferer in Bayfield, or a veteran in Ignacio can now access the same clinical-strength multi-cannabinoid RSO formula that a Houston resident receives. We built a product that can move across borders legally—completing a piece of Simpson’s vision that prohibition made impossible.

Our PANDEM1C SEO technology—a proprietary system with 14 million distinct geopolitical locations in its database and over 300 AI models—drives organic search visibility across six continents, making our products discoverable to La Plata County patients searching for RSO in English or Spanish.

How the OilWell formulas connect to the evidence

Every cannabinoid in our formula—CBD, CBG, delta-8 THC, THCa, delta-9 THC, CBN, and CBC—has its own evidence profile in our GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section. Every terpene—limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene—is covered with preclinical and review-level evidence.

The formulas published in this document are anchored to per-compound evidence summaries that explain what is well-supported by human clinical data, what is emerging from review and preclinical literature, and what is overstated relative to current evidence. Where we make specific research claims about individual cannabinoids or terpenes, this document provides the source evaluation context—the same peer-reviewed citations, the same evidence-tier assessments, and the same cautious interpretation framework.

The GENERAL KNOWLEDGE section’s evidence hierarchy, overstatement warnings, and safety notes apply equally to our own products. This document does not exempt us from the same evidence standards applied to the broader cannabinoid field. That is intentional. Our position—as stated by Colin Valencia in 2019—is that people deserve the best possible version of the information so they can give it a fair shot and decide for themselves whether it is right or wrong for them. This document is the research foundation for that position.

OilWell Cannabis is more than a brand—it is a promise to our customers that we will always strive to deliver the best, most thoughtful cannabis products available. We are not here to follow trends. We are here to set them. And as we continue to grow, our focus remains on maintaining the same level of integrity, creativity, and commitment that has defined us from the day Bentley got up, walked across the room, and brought his ball to play.

MEDIA RECOGNITION AND COMMUNITY IMPACT

Colin Valencia — Houston’s go-to cannabis authority

Between September 2019 and April 2023, ABC13 Houston (KTRK)—the ABC affiliate serving America’s fourth-largest city—featured Colin Valencia and OilWell Cannabis in seven distinct news segments spanning business, law, medicine, community health, and politics. Five different ABC13 reporters sought Colin out across those years: Tom Abrahams, Steve Campion, Shelley Childers, Nick Natario, and KTRK staff writers. No other Houston cannabis operator appears with that frequency or breadth of subject matter during the same period.

The features document a consistent pattern. When ABC13 needed to explain a new cannabis product, it called Colin. When a state agency reversed course on Delta-8 legality overnight, it called Colin. When a sitting president announced marijuana pardons and the station needed someone who had personally lived with a cannabis conviction to put it in context, it called Colin. When the station wanted to tell the story of a growing industry on 4/20, it was Colin’s hemp field and Colin’s voice that anchored the report.

For La Plata County residents evaluating our credibility, this mainstream media validation from a major-market ABC affiliate is a signal that transcends geography. When you’re considering ordering a product online from a company in Texas, you want to know it’s not a fly-by-night operation. Seven features over four years on Houston’s #1 news station demonstrates that we’ve earned recognition that cannot be purchased—only earned.

Feature: Texas CBD businesses booming as industry continues to evolve — September 15, 2019

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Reporter: Tom Abrahams
Published: September 15, 2019

This is the earliest documented ABC13 feature on OilWell—and the origin point of our foundational philosophy.

Key quote from Colin:

“It’s a lot of educating people, but not over-promising people. I’m not trying to sell people snake oil. I’m not trying to sell people hope, but there’s enough research out there that people just need to know and try and have the best possible version to base their opinions off of to give it a fair shot as to whether it’s right or wrong for them.”

That quote—from 2019, years before we published our formulas—is the seed of everything we became. The open-source formula publication, the evidence-based documentation, the refusal to make unsupported claims: it all traces back to this principle.

Feature: What is Delta 8 THC and why is it considered legal weed in Texas — May 24, 2021

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Reporter: Steve Campion

This investigative feature became one of the most widely referenced ABC13 cannabis segments. The exchange between Campion and Colin became iconic:

Steve Campion: “Why would someone want to smoke that?”
Colin Valencia: “I don’t give a sh** if it’s wrong to say you’ll get high off it. Maybe you want to get high.”

Radical honesty on mainstream television. The piece balanced Colin’s unapologetic stance with Dr. Michael Weaver’s medical caution and Heather Fazio’s regulatory advocacy, plus a full DEA statement documenting federal ambiguity.

Feature: Houston CBD shop giving away free products to those who get COVID vaccine — August 20, 2021

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)

OilWell gave away approximately $35,000 in product (1,000 caviar pre-rolls at $34.99 each) to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. We coordinated with the city of Houston to amplify the effort. This was not a marketing stunt—it was documented community health action during a public health crisis, with no political strings attached.

Feature: Texas ban over once legal hemp product Delta 8 raises questions over legality — October 19, 2021

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Reporter: Shelley Childers

This captured a defining moment. When Texas DSHS classified Delta-8 as Schedule I overnight, Colin had already removed all Delta-8 products from shelves—proactively, before enforcement began, and before most of the industry knew. He tried to spread the word to other operators who were unknowingly shipping Schedule I narcotics.

Key context from Zachary Maxwell of Texas Hemp Growers:

“Vets with PTSD who use these products for anxiety, dealing with stress and emotions… The Delta-8 market is around about $50 million in Texas. If you’re caught with as much as a Delta-8 vape cartridge, you could be looking at a felony offense punishable up to two years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.”

OilWell absorbed a major revenue loss to act ethically. That’s leadership.

Feature: Biden marijuana pardon — experts weigh in on why Texas won’t see impact — October 7, 2022

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Reporter: Nick Natario

This feature revealed the most personal dimension of Colin’s story. The article opened with OilWell’s CBD vending machine debut, then revealed:

Colin Valencia: “You face challenges with housing, loans, and banking, I mean with about everything. I would love to see people not get hurt for this anymore.”

Colin has personally faced charges for marijuana possession. This transforms every feature, every quote about therapy and education, every refusal to sell snake oil—because the person saying it has lived the consequences of cannabis criminalization. He’s not an outside entrepreneur; he’s someone who proved the industry can operate with integrity after experiencing the system’s failures firsthand.

Feature: Marijuana industry getting creative as Texas laws continue to change — April 21, 2023

Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
Reporter: Nick Natario

The most recent feature, published the day after 4/20, completes a four-year arc. Natario showed Colin growing hemp and explained the “Renaissance” framing. Nico Richardson’s comparison—Texas 10,000 active medical cannabis patients vs. Florida 700,000 with two-thirds the population—provided industry context. Colin’s quote:

“Right now is actually a pretty – like Renaissance – pretty important time that should be enjoyed now.”

From September 2019 CBD business profile through Delta-8 boom and bust, COVID community initiative, personal revelation of cannabis conviction history, and now “Renaissance” framing—Colin’s media trajectory mirrors the trajectory of legal cannabis itself.

Complete index of all Colin Valencia quotes across all ABC13 features

Chronological order:

1. September 15, 2019: “I’m not trying to sell people snake oil. I’m not trying to sell people hope, but there’s enough research out there that people just need to know and try and have the best possible version to base their opinions off of to give it a fair shot as to whether it’s right or wrong for them.”

2. March 22, 2021: “Pain comes in a lot of different forms.”

3. May 24, 2021: “I don’t give a sh* if it’s wrong to say you’ll get high off it. Maybe you want to get high.”*

4. August 20, 2021: “We just want Houston to be as healthy as possible. We’re not doctors. We’re not experts on this . We don’t have any political agenda. Come and participate if it’s right and safe for you and your loved ones!”

5. August 20, 2021: “[We’re] trying to get the city behind me to help as many people as we can. I really want to help things.”

6. October 19, 2021: “It’s going to be a surprise to a lot of people.” (regarding Delta-8 ban)

7. October 19, 2021: “So those people are now, because they didn’t know, shipping Schedule 1 narcotics, and people are receiving it.”

8. October 19, 2021: “It’s disappointing, but I’m not going to lose my customers and business are going to want our expertise on how to continue thriving in the industry.”

9. October 7, 2022: “You face challenges with housing, loans, and banking, I mean with about everything.”

10. October 7, 2022: “I would love to see people not get hurt for this anymore.”

11. April 21, 2023: “I want it to be legalized. I’m just saying that’s a very hyped conversation. If you really look at what’s here now, there’s nothing you could show me that I could accomplish with what literally we have right now.”

12. April 21, 2023: “Right now is actually a pretty – like Renaissance – pretty important time that should be enjoyed now.”

Key facts and details from the media record

About Colin Valencia and OilWell Cannabis:

• Owner of OilWell Cannabis (also referred to as OilWell CBD in earlier articles)
• Previously faced charges for marijuana possession (revealed October 2022)
• OilWell dispensary located in southwest Houston
• Specializes in hemp-derived CBD and THC products
• Described as local wholesaler in 2019; by 2022 preparing to debut CBD vending machine
• Products sold at HydroShack Hydroponics on West 20th Street in The Heights
• Partnered with The Game on special edition Delta-8 caviar comet rock pre-rolls
• Gave away 1,000 caviar pre-rolls (~$35,000 value) for COVID vaccination
• Coordinated with city of Houston on vaccination efforts
• Proactively removed all Delta-8 products when ban was announced and warned other operators

ABC13 reporters who covered OilWell:

• Tom Abrahams (2019, 2021)
• Steve Campion (2021)
• Shelley Childers (2021)
• Nick Natario (2022, 2023)

Timeline of features:

1. September 15, 2019 — CBD Business Boom
2. March 22, 2021 — Decriminalization/Jonathan Pina
3. May 24, 2021 — Delta-8 THC “Legal Weed”
4. August 20, 2021 — COVID Vaccine Giveaway
5. October 19, 2021 — Delta-8 Ban Impact
6. October 7, 2022 — Biden Marijuana Pardon
7. April 21, 2023 — Texas Marijuana Laws 4/20 Special

The through-line — what the media record reveals

Consistency across years. Colin appeared on ABC13 in 2019, 2021 (four times), 2022, and 2023. Through every shift in Texas cannabis law, ABC13 returned to him as a primary source.

Breadth of expertise. The features span business reporting, consumer health education, product investigation, legal analysis, political commentary, and community health advocacy. No other Houston cannabis figure spoke to that range across that many segments.

Community action. The COVID vaccine giveaway—$35,000 in product, coordination with city government, no political strings—is documented evidence of community-first philosophy. So is Colin’s proactive Delta-8 removal and warning other operators.

Personal stakes. The October 2022 revelation of Colin’s personal marijuana conviction history transforms the entire media record. Every quote about therapy and education carries additional weight when you understand the person saying it has personally experienced the consequences of cannabis criminalization.

Evolution of language. From “local wholesaler” in 2019 to “industry authority” by 2023, the media record tracks the growth of both the business and its founder’s public role.

These features are not marketing materials. They are independently produced, editorially controlled news segments from a major-market ABC affiliate that repeatedly identified Colin Valencia as the most credible, most quotable, and most accessible voice in Houston’s legal cannabis industry. That is recognition that cannot be purchased—it can only be earned.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Research method and evidence weighting

This section prioritizes sources in order: human clinical evidence, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, NIH and institutional summaries, then mechanistic/preclinical literature when human data are sparse. That weighting matters because the evidence base is uneven. CBD and delta-9 THC have the strongest human literature; delta-8 THC, THCa, CBG, CBN, CBC, and most terpenes depend more on reviews, animal work, and early translational studies [1]-[29].

Institutional baseline from NIH and related sources

• NCCIH states the strongest established cannabinoid evidence is for certain rare epilepsies, chemotherapy-related nausea/vomiting, and HIV/AIDS appetite/weight loss. Modest evidence exists for chronic pain and MS-related symptoms; many other claimed uses remain early-stage [1].
• FDA has not approved the cannabis plant itself for medical use; only purified CBD (Epidiolex) and synthetic THC-like drugs (dronabinol, nabilone) have specific approvals [1].
• Safety concerns highlighted by NIH include impairment, motor vehicle crash risk, cannabis use disorder, pregnancy-related concerns, accidental pediatric exposure, contamination/labeling inaccuracy, and THC-vape lung-injury concerns [1].
• NCCIH warns that over-the-counter CBD products may differ from labels and that CBD itself has been associated with decreased alertness, GI effects, liver-related adverse effects, and drug interactions [1].

Cannabinoids

CBD

• Evidence profile: Strongest human evidence in seizure disorders, especially as purified product [1][2].
• Anxiety: 2024 systematic review of 316 participants across 8 articles reported significant anxiolytic signal but stressed clinical sample remains limited and more trials needed [3].
• Pain: 2024 systematic review concluded pain literature is promising but heterogeneous, with trial quality limiting confidence in broad analgesic claims [4].
• Sleep: 2023 insomnia review found literature methodologically weak, with few objective sleep assessments [5].
• Safety: 2023 systematic review found real signal for liver enzyme elevation and possible drug-induced liver injury, especially relevant for concentrated oral products and polypharmacy settings [6]. NCCIH flags diarrhea, sleepiness, appetite changes, mood effects, liver abnormalities, and drug-drug interactions [1].

CBG

• Evidence profile: Mostly review-level and preclinical; human evidence sparse [7][8].
• Pharmacology: CBG is biosynthetic precursor to several cannabinoids, with distinct interactions spanning cannabinoid receptors, alpha-2 adrenoceptors, and 5-HT1A signaling—mechanistically interesting but not clinically established [7].
• Potential areas: Reviews discuss neurologic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, antibacterial activity, but these are pharmacology-led hypotheses or preclinical findings rather than mature human conclusions [7][8].
• Caution: 2021 pharmacology review notes CBG is already sold commercially while evidence base remains thin—claims frequently outrun science [7].
• Bottom line: CBG is a serious research topic but should be described as promising minor cannabinoid with limited clinical validation [7][8].

Delta-8 THC

• Evidence profile: Pharmacologically relevant, psychoactive, much less clinically characterized than delta-9 THC [9]-[11].
• Comparative pharmacology: 2022 review concluded delta-8 and delta-9 THC have broadly similar pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic behavior. Delta-8 is partial CB1 agonist with cannabimimetic activity, but appears less potent than delta-9, likely due to weaker CB1 affinity [9].
• Public-health literature: 2023 scoping review found evidence base dominated by animal studies, product chemistry, use reports, and public-health concerns rather than strong human trials. Noted reports of adverse consequences and emphasized regulatory/product-quality concerns [10].
• Manufacturing context: Recent chemistry review reinforces that commercial delta-8 interest is tied to greater stability and easier synthesis relative to naturally scarce plant levels—part of why lab-testing questions matter [11].
• Bottom line: Delta-8 THC should be treated as psychoactive THC analogue with real pharmacologic activity, incomplete human safety characterization, and more manufacturing-quality uncertainty than many consumers realize [9]-[11].

THCa

• Evidence profile: Important chemically/formulation-wise, but low on direct human therapeutic evidence [12].
• What it is: THCa is acidic precursor of THC, may represent large share of THC-related content in raw plant material. Key issue: THCa decarboxylates into THC during heating and can change over time during storage/processing [12].
• Psychoactivity: THCa itself does not produce psychoactive effects associated with THC in humans, but distinction only holds if molecule stays acidic and is not substantially decarboxylated [12].
• Research status: In vitro and rodent literature suggest anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and antineoplastic possibilities, but these are not equivalent to established human outcomes [12].
• Bottom line: THCa is best understood as highly relevant precursor molecule whose interpretation depends heavily on route, temperature, processing, storage. Any claim about THCa must account for possible conversion into THC [12].

Delta-9 THC

• Evidence profile: Strongest human evidence of psychoactive cannabinoids listed, but also clearest adverse-effect burden [1][13]-[15].
• Institutionally best supported: NCCIH identifies THC-containing medicines as relevant to chemotherapy-related nausea/vomiting, HIV/AIDS appetite/weight loss, and some MS/pain outcomes, while stressing many other uses remain uncertain [1].
• Pain evidence: 2022 systematic review of cannabis-based products for chronic pain found high-THC products may provide short-term pain benefit but increased dizziness, sedation, nausea, and treatment discontinuation due to adverse events [13].
• Pharmacokinetics: Inhaled THC: effects within seconds-minutes, peak ~15-30 minutes, taper over few hours. Oral THC: later onset, later peak, longer duration—matters for both benefit and overconsumption risk [14].
• Mental-health risk: 2025 systematic review of high-concentration THC products found consistent unfavorable associations with psychosis/schizophrenia outcomes and cannabis use disorder, with concerning signals for anxiety and depression in nontherapeutic settings [15].
• Broader safety: Institutional literature describes anxiety/panic at high doses, tachycardia, blood-pressure changes, dependency potential, withdrawal symptoms, pregnancy concerns, accidental pediatric exposure, and vape-related lung-injury concerns [1][14][15].
• Bottom line: Delta-9 THC has legitimate therapeutic relevance in some settings, but also carries clearest intoxication, psychiatric, and dose-related safety liabilities [1][13]-[15].

CBN

• Evidence profile: Weak human evidence; marketing has clearly moved ahead of data [12][16][17].
• Marketing vs. reality: Reputation for sleep/sedation is widespread, but clinical support far thinner than market suggests [16][17].
• Best review for sleep claim: 2021 narrative review on CBN and sleep screened 99 human-study abstracts, reviewed 8 full-text articles, and found no clinical trials using validated sleep questionnaires or formal polysomnography that could substantiate strong sleep-promoting claims for CBN [16].
• Broader sleep literature: 2024 updated review on cannabis and sleep concluded overall cannabinoid sleep research still does not match scale of real-world use—need for better-designed, adequately powered trials remains substantial [17].
• Chemical context: Review literature on THCa notes THC can degrade toward CBN under certain conditions—helps explain why CBN is often discussed in aging/oxidized cannabis chemistry contexts [12].
• Bottom line: CBN is clearest example where cultural reputation is stronger than current clinical evidence base [16][17].

CBC

• Evidence profile: Emerging, intriguing, overwhelmingly preclinical or review-based [18][19].
• Pharmacology/interest: 2024 focused review on CBC argues it has distinct pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and receptor behavior relative to better-known cannabinoids, highlights antinociceptive, antibacterial, and anti-seizure areas as especially interesting research targets [18].
• Older literature: Review literature summarizing CBC in animal/in vitro work reports anti-inflammatory effects, reduced gut hypermobility, modest rodent analgesic activity, possible neurobiological/antiproliferative relevance—but not yet strong evidence for patient-facing claims [19].
• Safety caveat: 2024 CBC review explicitly notes over-the-counter CBC products are already being sold despite little evidence establishing clinical efficacy or safety [18].
• Bottom line: CBC belongs in category of scientifically credible minor cannabinoids that deserve more research, not category of already-validated clinical actives [18][19].

Terpenes

Terpene claims need even stricter interpretation than cannabinoid claims. Much of terpene literature comes from isolated compounds, essential oils, non-cannabis plants, or preclinical models rather than controlled human studies of cannabis formulations. 2024 entourage-effect review makes this especially important: terpene bioactivity is plausible and sometimes compelling, but robust proof of clinically meaningful entourage effects in humans remains limited [20][29].

Limonene

• Evidence: Largely review and preclinical, useful safety literature [20]-[22].
• Potential activity: 2021 review describes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, immune-modulatory activities—but overwhelming share from nonhuman/non-cannabis literature [21].
• Safety note: Limonene oxidation products, especially hydroperoxides, are clinically relevant contact allergens in patch-testing literature [22].
• Bottom line: Biologically active and widely discussed, but cannabis-specific therapeutic claims should stay conservative unless directly supported in humans [20]-[22].

Myrcene

• Evidence: Mostly preclinical, very limited human evidence [20][23].
• Research summary: 2021 myrcene review describes anxiolytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic properties and possible mechanisms, but explicitly states human studies are lacking [23].
• Interpretation caution: Myrcene is often invoked as proven sedating terpene explaining couch-lock or sleep effects—stronger claim than human evidence currently supports [20][23].
• Bottom line: Plausible bioactive terpene, but compound-specific clinical claims about mood, pain, sedation remain far ahead of definitive human proof [23].

Caryophyllene

• Evidence: Among most mechanistically interesting because of direct cannabinoid-system relevance, but still mostly preclinical [24].
• Why it stands out: 2021 focused review describes beta-caryophyllene as selective CB2 receptor agonist—unusual, making it especially relevant when discussing cannabis terpenes in pharmacologic rather than purely aromatic terms [24].
• Research themes: Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, gastroprotective actions repeatedly discussed, but human clinical confirmation remains limited [24].
• Bottom line: Arguably strongest candidate for terpene with cannabinoid-system significance, but still should not be described as clinically proven for outcomes commonly attributed to it [24].

Pinene

• Evidence: Promising preclinical literature, weak human clinical confirmation [20][25].
• Brain-health framing: 2021 review on pinene and linalool as terpene-based medicines for brain health found antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective signals justifying future study, but emphasized well-designed clinical trials are lacking [25].
• Interpretation caution: Claims that pinene reliably improves memory, sharpens attention, or counterbalances THC-related cognitive effects remain interesting hypotheses rather than settled clinical facts [20][25].
• Bottom line: Deserves scientific attention, but strong cognition-related claims should be presented as exploratory [25].

Linalool

• Evidence: Similar to pinene: substantial preclinical interest, limited direct clinical confirmation [20][22][25][26].
• Research summary: Repeatedly discussed in relation to stress, mood, brain-health pharmacology. 2021 brain-health review found enough preclinical signal to justify continued investigation in neurological/psychiatric contexts, while emphasizing lack of robust human trials [25].
• Additional literature: Separate review discusses possible antidepressant mechanisms and neuropharmacologic relevance, but remains translational rather than definitive clinical story [26].
• Safety note: As with limonene, oxidized linalool hydroperoxides are recognized allergens in dermatitis literature [22].
• Bottom line: Scientifically credible bioactive terpene, but current evidence supports cautious phrasing rather than firm therapeutic promises [22][25][26].

Humulene

• Evidence: Translationally interesting, but still early [20][27].
• Scoping-review findings: 2024 scoping review analyzed 340 articles, found broad preclinical evidence for anti-inflammatory and other biologic effects, with some rodent work suggesting cannabimimetic properties via CB1 and adenosine A2a pathways [27].
• Interpretation caution: Findings valuable for hypothesis generation, but do not yet establish consistent human efficacy across pain, inflammation, or mood outcomes [27].
• Bottom line: One of more interesting terpene research targets, but remains far from clinically settled [27].

Terpinolene

• Evidence: One of least clinically characterized terpenes [20][28].
• Systematic-review findings: 2021 terpinolene review screened 2,449 records, included 57 studies, concluding terpinolene has range of reported biological effects but evidence base still dominated by in silico, in vitro, and animal studies rather than human trials [28].
• Interpretation caution: Even recent cannabis entourage reviews frame terpene benefits as exploratory, not established compound-specific clinical effects [20].
• Bottom line: Biologically interesting, but among listed terpenes remains especially underdeveloped clinically [20][28].

Research limits and interpretation

• Evidence base is highly uneven. CBD and delta-9 THC can support most detailed human-facing statements; rest require more caution [1]-[29].
• Whole-cannabis extract data, purified-molecule data, semisynthetic cannabinoid data, and terpene-only data are not interchangeable. Common error in cannabis writing is letting evidence from one category stand in for another.
• Minor cannabinoids and terpenes are commercially interesting precisely because they are underexplored, but that also means claims around them often become inflated.
• Product quality matters as much as molecule identity. Labeling inaccuracies, contamination, synthesis byproducts, dose variability, and route-dependent pharmacokinetics all materially affect interpretation in real-world products [1][10][11][14].
• For THCa particularly, chemistry is destiny: storage and heating can change actual exposure profile by converting acidic cannabinoids into neutral cannabinoids such as THC [12].

Common overstatements to avoid

• Overstatement: CBN is clinically proven sleep cannabinoid.
  More accurate: Specific sleep evidence for CBN remains weak and dated, with no strong validated-trial base yet identified [16][17].
• Overstatement: Myrcene is proven human sedative that reliably explains couch-lock.
  More accurate: Myrcene has plausible preclinical bioactivity, but direct human proof for common claim is limited [20][23].
• Overstatement: Terpenes in general have proven entourage effects in patients.
  More accurate: Entourage hypotheses are influential and worth studying, but robust clinical proof remains limited and highly compound-specific [20][29].
• Overstatement: THCa is always nonpsychoactive.
  More accurate: THCa itself is not THC, but heating/processing can convert THCa into THC, changing effective exposure [12].
• Overstatement: Delta-8 THC is safe because it is hemp-derived.
  More accurate: Delta-8 THC is psychoactive, pharmacologically close to delta-9 THC, and often entangled with manufacturing/testing concerns [9]-[11].

Practical takeaways for the formulas in this document

• Most evidence-developed actives are CBD and delta-9 THC.
• Delta-8 THC is not trivial or purely mild ingredient; it is psychoactive cannabinoid with less robust safety/efficacy characterization than delta-9 THC.
• THCa meaningfully changes with processing and should not be interpreted same way in raw, gently handled, and heated formats.
• CBG, CBN, and CBC are scientifically credible but clinically immature compared with CBD and THC.
• Listed terpenes are likely highly relevant to aroma, flavor, and potentially some biologic activity, but compound-specific human therapeutic claims should be made carefully and only where directly supported.

References

RSO SUBLINGUAL OIL FORMULA

Cannabinoid	Amount
CBD	4,500 mg
CBG	3,000 mg
Delta-8 THC	6,000 mg
THCa	1,500 mg
Delta-9 THC	90 mg
CBN	750 mg
CBC	750 mg
Total Cannabinoids	16,590 mg

• Live Terpenes: 5% (limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene)
• Format: 30 mL bottle with graduated dropper (0.1 mL increments)
• Active cannabinoids per mL: 553 mg
• Base: Organic MCT oil
• Price: $129.99

This is the open-source formula. Every milligram is published so you can source ingredients and make your own if you choose.

RSO VAPE CARTRIDGE FORMULA

Cannabinoid	Percentage
CBD	30%
CBG	20%
Delta-8 THC	15%
THCa	10%
CBN	10%
CBC	10%

• Live Terpenes: 5%
• Format: 1 Gram 510-thread cartridge
• Price: $49.99

The vape format auto-decarboxylates THCa at 400-450°F, instantly converting it to delta-9 THC with each puff.

TERPENE PROFILE (BOTH PRODUCTS)

• Limonene: Citrus-bright, mood-elevating
• Myrcene: Earthy, calming
• Caryophyllene (β-caryophyllene): Pepper/spice, CB2 agonist for inflammation
• Pinene: Forest-fresh, clarity-enhancing
• Linalool: Floral/lavender, stress-reducing
• Humulene: Earthy/woody, anti-inflammatory
• Terpinolene: Piney/fruity, antioxidant

This seven-terpene profile complements the cannabinoid formula to provide sensory experience and potential entourage effects.

HOW TO ORDER IN LA PLATA COUNTY

We make it simple for La Plata County residents to access our RSO:

1. Visit our website: oilwellcbd.com/thca-rick-simpson-oil-rso-by-oilwell-cannabis-of-houston-texas/
2. Choose your format: Sublingual Oil ($129.99) or Vape Cartridge ($49.99)
3. Checkout: We accept all major credit cards
4. Shipping: We ship via USPS Priority Mail (2-3 days) or FedEx/UPS Ground (3-5 days) directly to your La Plata County address
5. Tracking: Provided for all orders
6. Discreet packaging: No cannabis branding visible on exterior
7. COAs included: Full Certificates of Analysis for potency and safety

For questions or custom formulations:

• Phone: (832) 416-2816
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 AM-7 PM, Friday-Saturday 10 AM-10 PM, Sunday 10 AM-4 PM (Central Time)

We serve La Plata County with the same commitment to accessibility that drives our free delivery to the Texas Medical Center. Whether you’re in Durango’s city limits or on a ranch outside Hesperus, our products come to you.

FINAL WORDS FOR LA PLATA COUNTY

We wrote this guide because La Plata County deserves better than the generic, hyped-up RSO content flooding the internet. You deserve to know the full history—the good, the bad, the scientifically proven, and the still-emerging. You deserve to understand exactly what you’re putting in your body, down to the last milligram. You deserve to control your own medicine, deciding whether it’s psychoactive or not, whether you buy it or make it yourself.

This is what we’ve built: a product that honors Rick Simpson’s mission while fixing every problem with his method. A company that’s been vetted by mainstream media for four years. A founder who’s lived the desperation you’re feeling and came out the other side with real solutions. And a promise that we’ll never sell you snake oil—only the best possible version of the truth, so you can decide what’s right for you.

If you’re in La Plata County and you’re ready to try RSO, we’re here. If you want to make it yourself, we’ve given you the recipe. If you have questions, we’ll answer them directly. And if you’re not sure, we’ll tell you that too.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about us. It’s about you. It’s about Bentley getting up and bringing his ball. It’s about Colin quitting benzos and sleeping through the night. It’s about every person in La Plata County who’s been let down by a system that should have helped them.

We’re OilWell Cannabis. And we’re here for you.